A Veteran's Day post

I've been annoyed.  Annoyed with a lot of things.  It's like a low level hum from the fluorescent ceiling lights in generic offices.  You can't really tell it's there, but you are annoyed by it somewhere deep in the recesses of you brain.  It all accumulates into an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and isolation.  I want to drop out.
 
This is where this blog post changes.

I want to thank the men and women that have put on a uniform in service to our country.  It doesn't matter to me if you were on the front lines, or in the rear with the gear.  You put it on the line.  I didn't.  You woke up at ungodly hours to train for the worst.  I didn't.  You ate crappy food and appreciated it. I didn't.  You spent several tours away from your family.   I didn't.  You don't get paid enough.  If I was in charge, my first move would be to double your salary, and it still wouldn't be enough.  Your kids have grown and changed since you've been gone, I got to see everyday of my boy's lives.  You slept on rocks, on cots, and with a bunch of smelly dudes.  I didn't.  You were in 130 degree desert, I was only in a 115 degree desert.  You've had to move your family wherever you're told,  I haven't.  You're wives have asked themselves is this worth it? Mine hasn't (at least I don't think she has). You have been in countries and couldn't have a cold beer at the end of a hard work day. I haven't.  You've served under leaders you don't agree with, but you swore an oath to defend our country. I haven't. You've had too many friends that didn't come home from there. I haven't.  You've seen ungodly things that you'll never speak of outside of the circle of guys that saw the same things.  I haven't.

Thank you for serving.  Thank you for your sacrifice.  I appreciate you.  You will always be spoken of with respect in my house.  My sons will know that we appreciate our servicemen.  You will not be looked at with disdain by and Tomblin in my house.  I don't have the words to tell you the amount of respect I have for you, but this was my attempt.