It's Veterans Day.
Southern Fried Pugs mom here.
Some of you know that I was in the Air Force. I am not a combat veteran. I only went overseas for three weeks to support a training mission to Egypt. It was an awesome experience.
I served for 10 years. The Air Force helped shape me. It helped change me from an idealistic, naive, somewhat entitled, privileged white girl to a more focused, more disciplined woman.
I still have a spirit of idealism, but it is tempered with reality. I learned balance (ok, still learning).
I learned leadership, what good leadership looks like and what an absence of leadership looks like.
I learned how to work as part of a team.
I learned how to follow. That wasn't easy.
I learned when to follow and when to lead.
I learned about how to be a good supervisor, how to motivate people, different kinds of people.
I learned that if you take care of your people first, they take care of their job which lets you do your job. I learned that you have to be flexible and adaptable, yet prepared for anything.
I am proud to have served my country.
There are serious problems and mistakes have been made, but this is my nation. I am not a blind patriot. I am not a mindless flag waver. I am a person who gave 10 years of my life in service to my country.
I would do it again. I am one who still serves, just in a different capacity.
I am not posting this to ask for thanks for me on Veterans Day. Most veterans will be a little embarrassed when you do thank them.
In 2015, we've come a long way in appreciating veterans and their service.
I ask that you look around you for other veterans who blend in.
Don't just thank a vet on Veterans Day.
Thank them all year long.
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| Senior Airman Ramsey, circa 1997 |
