Gifts

[Anti M]

Every mom has given us the gift of their child serving our great country. A gift of pride, of tears, of loneliness, of sacrifice, a gift we all share and cherish. The wives and husbands and children, the aunts and uncles and grandparents, the girlfriends and boyfriends and fiances, all too have given the gift of supporting their service member. A gift of the heart. I thank you all for that gift.

Our sailors give of the gift of liberty, of our rights as citizens, of freedom to speak and believe and to participate in our government, of peace. A gift of personal commitment and service. I thank you for your service, for the gifts we receive as Americans.

The Navy has given myself and my family many gifts ... the gift of steady employment, of training, of medical care, of being taken care of and of many and varied experiences. My dad was able to take us to Europe, and to provide a good life for his children. I have walked among the ruins of Persepolis and hiked the stony paths of Mt. Fuji, basked in the sun on Diego Garcia and enjoyed a fine education, all thanks to the Navy. I have traveled far and wide, between my dad and his work after retirement, my own Navy career and that of my husband, I have reaped many rewards and am endlessly thankful for the gifts all our hard work in the military has provided. I thank all the taxpayers and patriots who support our troops and our government.

And as I say thanks for the gifts I have received and receive still, I look and wonder, what gifts can I give now? Who can I help, who can I cheer, who can I provide a kind word and a smile for this day? While receiving gifts is wonderful, how empty our hearts if we cannot give of ourselves to others.

A Shining Solstice and a Merry New Year to us all, and may the gifts we bestow bring joy and peace to all the world.