ONLINE DEGREE

I would like to thank the men and women in uniform who have courageously and sacrificially served in the U.S. military.

A large number of military personnel are enrolled in accredited online degrees from their duty stations around the world.

My own dad spent 30 years in the U.S. Air Force; and I grew up on military bases, with my dad often leaving home in the wee hours of the morning for drills. I sometimes ironed his uniforms, which had to be impeccably clean and crisp.

Walking around the military bases in California, France and Germany, I enjoyed watching the soldiers as they marched in precision exercises. They saluted my dad; and he saluted others with higher ranks. 

Many a night, I went to sleep hearing “Taps” mixed with the sounds of planes flying overhead as soldiers practiced their maneuvers or headed to unknown duty stations. I lived without my dad when he was stationed in Japan, Korea and Vietnam; and my mom had to act as head of the household and make all decisions while he was away. Life as a military wife was not easy; but she made the sacrifices that were necessary.

My dad attended University of Maryland classes and received his bachelor’s degree in a ceremony at Heidelberg, Germany. We attended the graduation and were really proud of him. 

When he returned from his overseas missions, there was much that my dad could not tell us; but we knew that what he was doing was important. He obviously saw and did difficult things that we would never know about; and he had to hide those experiences in heart until the day he died of a heart attack at age 55.

When he died, my dad had been retired for only 5 years. He left the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant and was on the Inspector General’s team; so there was still a lot of traveling in his job. The military funeral — complete with a 21-gun salute — signaled the end of a life dedicated to serving our country. His military pension ended with his death; and my mom was financially on her own after 35 years of marriage — yet another sacrificial blow.

Many have placed themselves in danger to preserve the liberties that we enjoy; and for that, we owe them a debt of heartfelt gratitude. These soldiers do not make policy; but they love their country enough to willingly obey those in authority over them in order to protect America from its enemies. Their wives, husbands and children also make huge sacrifices.

Our prayers and appreciation go out to all these brave souls and their families — not just today, but every day. You are our heroes. Thank you.

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