I didn’t grow up particularly patriotic. I mean, we lit fireworks on the 4th of July, I always proudly held my hand over my heart during the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. My grandad, grandpa and even one of my grandmas all served during WWII and I remember thinking how great that was. But I never really “got” patriotism. I was always just stoked I got an day off of school on Veteran’s day.

It wasn’t until I was out of college that I really started to “get it”.

I started working for a company that had deep seeded patriotic roots. Every single product was built proudly in the USA. We even had a product that was dedicated solely to the troops and proceeds from every single one of those items sold went to TAPS. We had product names like the Patriot, Old Glory, Allegiance, Defender, General, Admiral…seriously, I could go on. We had American Flags as the background for our company banners.

One year, between Veteran’s Day and Christmas, we put together a program where we sold heavily discounted product to the troops overseas and actually shipped the product to them in time for Christmas so they could have a little extra piece of home during their R&R. We continued the program beyond that initial shipment, and I ended up as the main point of contact for the troops for the next 2 years.

That’s really when it all hit me. These service men & women…real people. Calling in, sometimes keeping me on the line for well over 45 minutes, just because I was a “real person” to talk to. The handwritten thank-you letters sent from the “sandbox”. The platoon photos of the troops proudly sporting their branded hats we sent them. The folded flags they would send us that had flown in battle as a token of their appreciation.

Their appreciation? They were the ones sacrificing their lives, missing their families and they were thankful for a discounted product? It blew my mind.

We are the appreciative ones… I am the appreciative one.

I have so much respect and admiration for our service members and their families for all of their sacrifices.

Anymore, I can’t help but get teary every time I hear the National Anthem. I even get the chills. I know the true meaning of those words.

I am proud to call myself an American.

I am truly thankful for all the men and women, past and present, who have put their lives on the line so that I am able to have the freedom to do the things I love.

So, for those of you reading this that have been/are in the armed forces…THANK YOU…from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

For those of you reading this that aren’t…make sure you take two seconds today and THANK THEM.