The other day when I walked into work there was a soldier standing at the counter looking at the menu. I asked him which branch he was with and he told me he was Army.
There are many branches with different types of uniforms and I cant identify them all.
I unzipped my jacket to show him my unauthorized Air Force sweatshirt that was my sons when he was in basic training. Im allowed to wear it at long as I keep my jacket zipped up.
My yellow ribbon is proudly displayed on my hat.
He was placing a rather large order to be delivered Saturday for a Christmas party for the recruits that are leaving for basic training. Even though I am only driver, the computer knows that and hates me for it; I took the order and gave him as many discounts as I could.
Later that day, my boss didnt know what to do with me when I started talking a mile a minute about the Armys upcoming Christmas party. I was following around behind poking him in the ribs saying Discounts, discounts, discounts.
My boss is the greatest. He discounted it even more. A lot more.
And not just because I was hounding him, hes just very generous that way.
Even though I am a bit of a pest when I want something.
So today was the big day, I had made several dozen Christmas cookies to take over for the Army party, the kind you take from the package and put on a cookie sheet.
I am not much of a cook and didnt want to be responsible for making the Army sick.
It could be a treasonous act.
It took three drivers with two Chevy Blazers and a car to get all the food to the Army Recruiting Center.
They were a hungry group.
When the other two drivers and I arrived at the Army Recruiting Center, we backed our vehicles up to the door and started to unload the ¼ ton of food.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a large group of soldiers were standing next to us, ready to help us unload the ¼ ton of food.
They were not only a hungry group, they camouflage very well.
They DO have special training for that.
We started a food parade into the Army Recruiting Center when an even larger group of young men were waiting to be fed.
I was very proud to be part of that parade.
When we finished unloading all the food, I looked around and didnt see the Christmas cookies. I told one of the soldiers I would be right back with the cookies.
There are Christmas cookies too? He said and before I could get to the door the young soldier was standing in front of me with the basket of cookies, grinning ear-to-ear.
The Army has mastered camouflage AND speed.
The look on his face felt really good. My 55,000 friends need to know that.
When the other two drivers and I were walking out the door, many soldiers shook our hands and thanked us. edited to add* Can you imagine, they were thanking us?!? One stopped us and asked us if we were ready to join the Army. I looked at him and without thinking said My son is in the Air force, I did my part, I gave birth. And I winked at him.
The Army could be working on that now, where they have mastered so many other skills.
I glanced back over my shoulder at the faces of the young men and women, getting into line with their plates to get their food and begin their Christmas celebration, before they are shipped out to basic training to fight and defend our country.
They looked so happy, smiling and joking with their friends.
Mostly they looked so brave.
Brave like my boy.
I am so unbelievably proud to be an American and feel so honored to have been a part of that party.
I had a good day today.
There are many branches with different types of uniforms and I cant identify them all.
I unzipped my jacket to show him my unauthorized Air Force sweatshirt that was my sons when he was in basic training. Im allowed to wear it at long as I keep my jacket zipped up.
My yellow ribbon is proudly displayed on my hat.
He was placing a rather large order to be delivered Saturday for a Christmas party for the recruits that are leaving for basic training. Even though I am only driver, the computer knows that and hates me for it; I took the order and gave him as many discounts as I could.
Later that day, my boss didnt know what to do with me when I started talking a mile a minute about the Armys upcoming Christmas party. I was following around behind poking him in the ribs saying Discounts, discounts, discounts.
My boss is the greatest. He discounted it even more. A lot more.
And not just because I was hounding him, hes just very generous that way.
Even though I am a bit of a pest when I want something.
So today was the big day, I had made several dozen Christmas cookies to take over for the Army party, the kind you take from the package and put on a cookie sheet.
I am not much of a cook and didnt want to be responsible for making the Army sick.
It could be a treasonous act.
It took three drivers with two Chevy Blazers and a car to get all the food to the Army Recruiting Center.
They were a hungry group.
When the other two drivers and I arrived at the Army Recruiting Center, we backed our vehicles up to the door and started to unload the ¼ ton of food.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a large group of soldiers were standing next to us, ready to help us unload the ¼ ton of food.
They were not only a hungry group, they camouflage very well.
They DO have special training for that.
We started a food parade into the Army Recruiting Center when an even larger group of young men were waiting to be fed.
I was very proud to be part of that parade.
When we finished unloading all the food, I looked around and didnt see the Christmas cookies. I told one of the soldiers I would be right back with the cookies.
There are Christmas cookies too? He said and before I could get to the door the young soldier was standing in front of me with the basket of cookies, grinning ear-to-ear.
The Army has mastered camouflage AND speed.
The look on his face felt really good. My 55,000 friends need to know that.
When the other two drivers and I were walking out the door, many soldiers shook our hands and thanked us. edited to add* Can you imagine, they were thanking us?!? One stopped us and asked us if we were ready to join the Army. I looked at him and without thinking said My son is in the Air force, I did my part, I gave birth. And I winked at him.
The Army could be working on that now, where they have mastered so many other skills.
I glanced back over my shoulder at the faces of the young men and women, getting into line with their plates to get their food and begin their Christmas celebration, before they are shipped out to basic training to fight and defend our country.
They looked so happy, smiling and joking with their friends.
Mostly they looked so brave.
Brave like my boy.
I am so unbelievably proud to be an American and feel so honored to have been a part of that party.
I had a good day today.
(once a Marine, always a Marine he says).
