Veterans Day, 2011.

For everything you do, babe, I thank you and honor you. I'm so proud of you, and I'm proud to call myself your wife. Though you think of it as “just a job”, I think of it as more than that - everyone's eyes widen in awe when I tell them what you do. You are a soldier in the United States Army: trained for battle, trained to conquer, trained to defeat, trained to eliminate all enemies of the United States. You are a superhero in my eyes. You wear combat boots and armor on your chest. You know how to strike on command and how to handle a deadly weapon. You spend your nights alone in a strange country, away from your family, from me, away from all thats comfortable. You answer the call of duty whenever it knocks, no questions asked, ever. you do more for our country than anyone could've ever asked you, and you do it with a sense of dignity and subdued courage

Daddy, I am so proud of you. I wish you were here so I could hug you and honor you. You've been my role model, my voice of reason, my steady force, throughout my life. Maybe it was because you were a Marine or maybe it's because you were born with a profound love of life - you have taught me the meanings of love, duty, and honor. For that, I thank you. I don't know much about the Marine Corps but I do know their motto: Semper Fidelis, or "Always Faithful". You've exuded that mantra for as long as I can remember; telling people that you were a Marine always makes me smile because you stepped forward when so many others stepped back. Your service to our country and your courage during the time of war will never go unthanked... You are an incredible man and I am so lucky to know you, to love you, to be your daughter.

In remembrance of all veterans, then and now, thank you for everything you've done for us.

The Soldier's Creed:

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.