What exactly does it mean to be a Veteran?

So, I am sensing a theme here...My wife is always posting cute pictures and Witty one-liners, while I am writing the political and make me feel good about myself posts! Hope you all will stick with me for a minute here, if not then scroll down and look at Chuck scowl at you.

I have had many congratulatory and supportive text messages, phone calls, and emails today for my service in the military. Each time I hear one, it makes me cringe because I did not ever serve in an "active" war zone. After I told the third individual that I am not deserving of any appreciation or recognition, I decided to take a step back and look at things from a different perspective.

My sweet Bride was almost 9 months pregnant with our third baby (including two-one year old babies in tow!) when I got the call that I had been activated to go to Iraq. I was so excited, I couldn't sit still! I was finally getting the opportunity to serve my Country and prove my worth! My Woman on the other hand was drinking nasty Oil and doing jumping jacks to get my son out before I left.

The night before my unit was to fly out, I was given a stand-down order along with 4 other guys from the 142nd MI Battalion. I was heart broken and felt like I was being punished, while Janet and all others in my circle of family and friends were saying prayers of thanksgiving that I would not be going to war.

To this day I don't know why I was called to stay behind, but I am sure that God was the driving force. It took me many years to come to grips with, and I obviously still hold on to it, but I did serve my Country. I gave almost 10 years of my life to serving in the military, and was given the unique responsibility of maintaining the operations from other arenas of the world while my brothers were sent to Iraq.

I am very proud to have been a part of such a noble profession for so many years, and to stand in line with other brave men and women today. Today is a day to celebrate those who have served, Memorial Day is a day to remember those who gave all. So by this definition, yes I am a Veteran.

Thank you, a HUGE and heartfelt thank you goes out to all the men and women through out the world that have made the commitment to keep us safe on our soil. Taking the fight overseas as to spare us the agony of seeing the ugliness of war on our hallowed land.