Sunday Salute - Our Military Deployed on Active Service

This week, our Sunday Salute goes out to the members of our military who are deployed on active service - and to the families who wait for them to return home! This is a hard time of year for our men and women who are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, and all over the world. Please join us in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers.

Several of our readers commented on the little tree in the screened-in area of our deck. (It's right off the kitchen, Sitka! That means street level in the front, 2 floors up in the back!) We have little wooden flag ornaments on that, as a reminder of our service members. With it being outside, it also reminds us that many service members are outside as well, guarding our freedoms and fighting to keep us safe, regardless of the harsh elements.

Sitka also commented on the little tree in the living room Amber was posing by. It, too, is decorated in patriotic ornaments! Every year, we put a small tree up in the living room to honor all those who served and who currently serve our nation in uniform. Zim showed you how it turned out last year; here is another look at this year's:

It's our favorite tree! In that post last year, Zimmie told you "One thing mom does for this Christmas tree dates back to at least the mid-1800s - a great military family tradition from the 'frontier days'! She ties some of our dad's brass Army uniform buttons and even some of her dad's buttons to our tree! She takes spare brass buttons from their uniforms, loops ribbon through the shank, and ties them to our tree!" We love that part of the tree. Look! Here is one of Mom's dad's (our grandfather's!) buttons:

He spent many Christmases serving far away from home! He, like so many other soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen and coast guardsmen throughout our nation's history, proudly served, to protect our freedoms.

There are also great reminders of military families on the tree - some are gifts to Mom from fellow Army wives, some are things Mom made and shared with her friends. Here are a few examples of those; we'll start with a simple BDU tree ornament Mom made and shared with special military families. She made it from one of Dad's old uniforms.

Here is one of our favs - it's a sled with a Big Red One decal on it! Dad served in the 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One) for a total of six years. This was made by some special ladies whose hubbies served with Dad.

It's a great reminder of the camaraderie amongst those on the "home front". The next ornament is one Mom made and shared while Dad was deployed with the Big Red One during Desert Storm:

It reminders her of the families whose military member is deployed now and what they are experiencing. Though military families miss their service member deeply, they are also incredibly proud of them and their service. And we are ever so grateful!

Check out the angel that sits at the base of the tree! She has a BDU dress and wings!

It was made by some of the ladies whose husbands were serving with Dad in the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. Mom and Dad were there for two years and it was an incredible experience for them both. That angel is very special to Mom and reminds her that often the families are far from home, as well. The 2nd Infantry Division experience was unique, in that the soldiers lived at various camps "up north" (near the DMZ) and the sponsored wives lived on an Army garrison in Seoul. Dad brought some of his fellow "Second to None" Warriors down to Mom's for a Christmas dinner one year and Mom made these for the guys:

It was a very special evening, enjoyed tremendously by all. The ornament is a reminder that even a small gesture can mean a lot to our military and their families.

This Christmas season, please remember to keep our special warriors and their families, especially those serving far from home, in your thoughts and prayers. And should you have the opportunity, please reach out. Even a "simple" thank you means so much. May God bless each and every member of our military who is deployed this year - and their dear family members. We salute you all!

The Army of Four