I’m a tough ole bird, I don’t cry easily, and I love my 39 children with all my heart. Three of my sons are now in, or have been, in the armed forces and I’m immensely proud of their accomplishments. All of us over 50 something folks remember our ambivalence towards the Vietnam War; we remember those who died and those who served. It was a difficult time for our country with riots and protests, one of my older daughters had watched a documentary of the 1960s, “Mama, how did anyone survive those years?’

We did survive, but it certainly altered our perspective on everything.

My pastor sent me this short news video and I nearly sobbed.

Several years ago I had two sons, on two different Navy ships, on both sides of Iraq, indirectly forcing me to keep the news channels on 24-7, for any chance of viewing their respective ships as the news reporters often did so, and televised the sailors.

Our local county newspaper kept their names, and the names of other servicemen from our county, in the newspaper for years; a quiet recognition that they’d both deserved and earned by their service to our country. My sons received standing ovations in our church as well, building them up for what they’d done.

I highly recommend the armed forces for sons like mine, curious, capable and searching guys, it’s made men out of them, given them pride in their accomplishments and, indeed, they’ve done something I’d never have been able to do, they surpassed me in that regard, making me all the more proud and appreciative of their accomplishments.

My third son joined the Georgia Army National Guard unexpectedly, surprising the tar of out his siblings and I. He was in the middle of college, and a recruiter talked to him about the benefits, he studied it carefully, sought counseling from his sister’s father-in-law, a retired full bird colonel in the Guard, and now he’s at boot camp, he’ll return here to finish college, and later he’ll serve as an officer.

In a recent letter he remarked that he felt bad for those guys there who never received any mail. I’m glad he’s sensitive to that, he realizes the benefit of a family, he’s always been smart and able to see how much he needed his family, and the knowledge that we truly love him.

As a child of the 60s, I’ve learned a great deal, in my own personal growth, about God and country, and I’m so proud of my sons, they’re my heroes.