My Deepest Appreciation....

This is such an incredible day for me. Each year it becomes more and more special. Luke and I attended the Veteran's Day parade in Pueblo on Saturday. I realized it is the first one I have been to as an adult that I have not marched in. That was sobering. I don't know if I can explain how, or even if I can make anyone understand. Realizing there is probably less than a handful of World War I Vets left, that the men and women of the generation of my grandfathers who served in World War II are dying very quickly, that the Korean War Vets, and even the Vietnam War Vets are aging and dying from things we are only beginning to understand hit me hard. My own generation is seeing things change rapidly, and appreciation sometimes seems to be slipping.
But then I think of those who have set the example for my life. My biggest hero will always be my father. My father, who worked so hard, gave so much of himself to allow my mom to stay home and raise my brother and me. Being a member of a fighter unit in the Air Force Reserve, working full time at that job, meant he left the country more often than other Reserve squadrons. Even when I was a small child, 2 weeks often morphed into a month or longer. But he made probably more than his ration of 5-minute phone calls from Denmark, Canada, Turkey, Thailand, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and many other places. They were words we lived by. He was often a staple at my horse shows, but also the only dad who came in his uniform. And he has left me with sweet, sweet memories of being an excited and spoiled little girl who relished the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of an F-105 and F-16. I regret I never had the chance to spend a day or night with him at work like my brother did, but am also so very proud David had that chance. Thank you, MSgt Melvin M. Ahrens (USAFRes, Ret)
My second hero is my big brother. We may be 5-years apart in age, but we are close in spirit. Sure, we have, and have had our sibling spats. Who really wants their baby sister tagging along to to every imaginable events, anyway? And how many can really hold their wits when that baby sister throws a royal fit because big brother gets to have "all the fun" with the planes while she has to go to bed early because she's truly little? But he always knew who he was and what he wanted to do with life. He worked hard, hard, hard and was accepted into a private university that is widely known to have produced some of the best pilots the U.S. Air Force has ever seen. Not only that, he was awarded a full ride scholarship. While he was turned down for a pilot's slot, he was navigator qualified, earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, and has proceeded to achieve his graduate degree in another engineering field. He is now a Lieutenant Colonel in our Air Force, and a fantastic family man. I can't be a more proud sister.
Not to be outdone is my wonderfully patient husband. We met in 1997 on Pearl Harbor. I lived on Hickam Air Force Base, which literally is separated from Pearl by a fence of brush and two pole gates; one at the edge of the water, one in base housing. This incredible man caught my eye and returned my smile. 1 year and 4-months later we were married. That was 11-years ago, but he has remained by the side of this crazy blonde chick from Utah. Any man who can serve on a submarine, let alone an attack submarine with the hull number of 666, is someone special, and I can't believe I ever got so lucky. I only regret that an injury cut his Naval career short.
I need mention my amazing father-in-law. Once in a while he speaks a bit of his time in the Navy, but I know the memories are difficult for him. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War, though he endured things no man should ever have to encounter in his own country. I sincerely doubt he is aware of just how much we appreciate not only him, but the example he showed to the man I married.
There can be no comparison to the men and women who have sacrificed all for our country. Nor can we forget those who are still missing, including Sgt. Matt Maupin (Edit to add I am an idiot. In my tiredness and emotion, I failed to remember Sgt Maupin's remains were recovered and brought home nearly 2-years ago....) and Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl. But my appreciation to every single person who has dutifully served our country can never be measured in words. Had it not been for the farmers who stood up against the tyrannical King George, we would not have this nation. Had it not been for all of those who have put on the uniform and not only fought here, but overseas in defense of our allies, there is no telling where we'd be today. Had those people not stood up and taken the oath to protect our Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic, we could not stand today and say
THANK YOU.......

Fort Hood....

I am sure I am only echoing the thoughts of everyone else in the nation tonight, but my heart is absolutely sick over the news coming from Killeen, Texas tonight. My time in service to my country afforded me the opportunity to witness some really bizarre behavior from my peers and superiors. I saw one of my officers lose his mind and drop a box of ramblings in a foreign language at the main gate on Hickam AFB, HI. It was addressed to the Base Commander and we were shut down with the thought someone had left a bomb. I saw some of the younger soldiers and Marines, in particular, become so tired that they would just fall over from exhaustion while on duty. I went through multiple bomb threats and evacuations. I was even present and on duty for an actual bomb exploding in the office of the First Sergeant at the Security Police Force's orderly room on Lackland AFB, Texas. She survived, though she lost a hand, an eye, most of her fingers on the surviving hand, and had other injuries. She also managed to finish her career. The newly dishonorably discharged airman who managed to get the bomb on base and into her office was prosecuted to the fullest extent. A few months after that all of America witnessed the horrific acts of 9/11. That was the worst example of humanity, and the strongest example of "brotherhood" I have experienced to date. A Middle-Eastern restaurant had been completely vandalized and nearly destroyed by angry citizens. The woman who owned it still somehow managed to open for lunch, but only because of the support of military members who were off-duty on September 12th. And the entire lunch and dinner crowd made the news. It was all military. I worked with a devout Muslim. He was angry over the happenings, and he was fearful, too. The entire crew on our shift, plus some, surrounded him and made sure was safe.

I never did see anything like the soldiers at Fort Hood saw today, however. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining! I am simply heartsick and wishing there was more I could do. I know the chaos that arrises in the moments surrounding a disaster. I don't think I even want to imagine the fear and pain, even in these many hours after the fact. No, I was not in the Army. Many of my coworkers were, or still are. Fort Hood was less than 2-hours away from those of us who were stationed in Texas for a time. It's a huge part of the community as a whole, even hundreds or thousands of miles away. It's a small world, to say the least.

So tonight I sit here with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes. I have not worn a uniform in 4 very long years, but the ties that bind are strong. So, to quote my big brother, LtCol David K. Ahrens, USAF, "Stay strong, Fort Hood. This USAF Sister is standing with you......."