Why (Heart) Our Troops on Valentine’s Day?
By Christine G. Adamo
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Serving overseas (in wartime),
Is something few people long to do.
Like the rest of you I recently received an email from Julie Lloyd, a program coordinator for Community Service at Naz’s Center for Civic Engagement. In it, she encouraged us to send a little “love and appreciation to our troops” – in the form of a Valentine greeting of your own design.
Unlike the rest of you (or, at least, the majority of you), I once was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. That’s right, kids: Dear ol’ Naz Girl About Town was once a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. I served from 1987 to 1993, was stationed overseas and even served in the Persian Gulf War.
Don’t believe me? Take a gander at the pics in this post. Aye, chihuahua!!!
While that may have preceded your birth (Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm ran largely from 1990-1991), I know that you know that L-O-V-E (Yes, that little thing that stirs our hearts!) never goes out of style. Which is why I’m offering up (10) reasons to take her up on the challenge.
In short, why not make a Valentine that’ll make a solider happier to serve?
Stop by GAC’s Cafe Sorelle Mon., Feb. 1 or Tues., Feb. 2. Pop into the Shults Center Forum Wed., Feb. 3. Take two minutes (between 11:30am and 1:30pm) to send well wishes to someone who wishes they could be back on U.S. soil with their loved ones any ol’ day of the year. All it’ll cost you is your time.
(10) Good Reasons to Send ‘Em a Valentine:
1.) Few people join the service to leave loved ones behind.
2.) Fewer still have the luxury of being able to text ’em at will.
3.) No one I served with had anything close to a heart of stone.
4.) Serving your country can sometimes feel like a thankless task.
5.) When troops are shipped overseas, it’s usually not by choice.
6.) It often feels as if people back home don’t think about us.
7.) Soldiers typically serve in locations that are fairly remote.
8.) Being at your country’s mercy can get kinda depressing.
9.) Getting anything at all – from the U.S. – is a real treat.
10.) Love is the thread that helps keep us all connected.
With love – and lots of it – Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sgt. Adamo
