When my dad told us he reenlisted I was nothing short of pissed to be totally honest. How could he put his life at risk like this? How could he abandon his family? But the more I thought about it, the more honorable my father’s actions became. Here was a man, 45 years old, who was willing to put his life on the line to fight for his country and to protect the things at home which he loved most. He was volunteering to ensure that all of us here at home could continue to live free, free of the fear of persecution and terrorism. From this point forward, my dad became my hero and after several deployments, two rises in rank and countless medals and honors, my dad has repeatedly given me reasons to be proud of him.

Deploying in itself is a reason to be proud of a soldier because leaving your family behind to live in a war-torn country for months at a time can not be easy. I know how it feels to be left behind and it sucks, but I’m positive that what my dad went through was much harder. I have so much respect for my dad because it would have been so easy for him to never reenlist but he did. He volunteered because he felt driven to fight for his beliefs and the values of his country. He faced horrible conditions, he witnessed tragedy first hand, he jumped out of airplanes thousands of feet in the air and he risked his life every single day all for us here at home. Home -- where we were comfortably tucked into our beds while my dad listened to bombshells and the firing of automatic weapons in the distance from his cot in an army barrack somewhere in the mountains of the Middle East. My dad’s deployments put into perspective how much we take for granted, such as the very people who face these horrendous, war-ridden conditions to defend our ability to sleep comfortably and fearlessly. Never again will I take a soldier or veteran for granted because without them our lives would be very different.

Is being the daughter of a soldier difficult? You bet, but it is also the biggest source of patriotism and pride that I have ever identified with. I love that I get to say my dad is turning 55, is in better shape than me and is a highly recognized Lieutenant Colonel in the army. I am proud to say that he has fought for his country and that he has dedicated his life to protect our ability to live our lives in freedom and comfort. I am blessed to have such a brave and honorable yet modest and humble man as a father and a role model. I am proud to be the daughter of a soldier and I thank my dad and all American service men and women for their service and bravery. Thank you.