We're so proud of you Dad...

I can't even begin to express how proud I am of my dad. I think every little girl believes her daddy is her true hero. But mine really is. I grew up in a military family. My dad had been in the Navy since he was 18 yrs old and has served several years in the Vietnam War, served in the Philipines and spent 1-1/2 years in Desert Storm in Saudia Arabia. He continued to be in the reserves until his 25 years were in and retired a few years ago. He had worked his way up the chain during his time in, and when he retired, he had quite a troop of men under him.

Last year I learned that our city was establishing a monument in honor of all the men and woman that had served our country, and you could buy a brick and have it engraved with whatever you wanted in memory of that person. So for his birthday, DH and I bought a brick and had it set in the monument in honor of my dad. So now every generation can go and see with pride what my dad gave for us. For his birthday, I wrote a long letter from the heart explaining what he meant to us and what we had done in honor of his brithday. He was so touched he teared up. When the brick was finally laid, DH and I took my parents to the park where it was and showed him what we had made. I can't explain in words what was on my fathers face when he looked at his brick and all the others lined up next to his. There are no words. For what he missed in our childhoods growing up because he was gone, or the struggle he knew my mom went through while he was gone, or for what he saw and went through while he was serving. For the friends he lost in the wars, for the friendships he gained for life in fellow soldiers.

Dad...I would never trade what you have done or the person you are for any other father. You are the best I could ever ask for, and I love you!

XOXO