I’ll never forget the first time I saw my husband march in a Veteran’s Day parade. We were stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, TX and oddly enough, the public schools did not have the day off. I did not go to work (was a substitute teacher then too) and my son M did not go to preschool that day. He dressed up in a nice shirt and vest for the day along with a Santa hat, all ready to see Daddy march.

I didn’t take pictures that day, reveling in the excitement of the moment of not only seeing my husband in a parade but also seeing the pride in our son’s face as his father marched by.

This year was a bit different. Two more kids. Three timezones away from Daddy. We still went to the parade in town.

R faces another surgery today and I know everything is going to be just fine.

Just like the dog.

Just like his brave, tough kids.