I come from a military family. My father served in the Air Force; his father was in the Army in World War II. My maternal grandfather was in the Navy in WWII and later joined the Air Force. His son, my uncle Wayne, retired a few years back after a long career in the Air Force, and my cousin Martin, Wayne’s son, is currently serving in the Air Force. My great-grandfather served in the Army in World War I, and I had several family members on both sides in the Civil War and Revolutionary War.
My family is very proud of its service to our country. My grandmother proudly displays photos of four generations of Cunningham men in their uniforms in her living room. She tells me that people always comment on those pictures. My cousin Martin has recently been sent to Qatar. While I have been assured he isn’t really in harm’s way there, the way this war has gone, you just don’t know; I have already lost a friend, so I worry. This is Martin and his youngest son Nicholas:
I think Martin is supposed to be gone for about four months. If you have a moment, think about the families left behind while their loved ones are deployed, especially to Iraq and Afghanistan. I don’t agree with this war, but I have the utmost respect for our troops and their families.
