Happy Memorial Day!

As we pause to remember and appreciate the sacrifice of the men and women who serve, have served and those who have died protecting our freedoms, let’s also remember the sacrifices their families make.

I have great admiration for those spouses who remain at home and keep everything running. I watched my dear friend Rachel as she raised her baby alone during her husband’s second deployment to Iraq as a Navy Seabee. Yes, she had a lot of family and friends surrounding her with love and support, and although she appreciated it greatly, we could not fill the void left by her husband.

I remember when we heard her husband had been wounded. There were no words we could share that would ease the uncertainty she felt. I remember when she returned to their home base for his expected return only to have his arrival date pushed back several times.

Rachel, thank you for being so brave throughout Chedric’s deployments. You are a true woman of *finesse!

*finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)