I never give pause to stop and think any further than the ultimate sacrifice. But sacrifice means more. Sacrifice is missing the first seven months of your first child’s life to spend time fighting terrorists in Iraq. It’s volunteering to spend Christmas deployed in Cyprus so that others can go home for a short break to enjoy time with loved ones.

It’s sitting outside in the sub-freezing Afghanistan cold waiting to get on Skype to watch your sister get married because you couldn’t be there in person (thanks again for making that happen, Aunt TL).

It also encompasses the non-lethal physical and emotional repercussions, like lifelong injuries sustained from an IED explosion, and the more elusive but no less serious Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Sacrifice is acknowledging those risks, but openly choosing to brave your chances to fight for those who may not always  appreciate the weight of your actions. They’ve fought, and will continue to fight, so that we don’t have to.

I know that nothing I say or do will ever be enough to fully express how much I appreciate this gift, so I will simply say thank you.

Thank you Ethan Field, Seth Field, Jessica Austin, Pawpaw, Michael Austin, Andy Tannock, Dave Tannock, Wendy Byrd, Andrew Victory, Phil Guernsey, Troy Blankenstein, Michael Kimpflen and to every other Marine, Soldier, Seaman,  and Airman that has put his or herself in harm’s way on my account.

And because every post is better with a photo, here are some of my favorites images of veterans I’ve been privileged to photograph.

My brother, a Marine, and his fiancée, an Airman.

Phil, a Marine.

Andrew, a Soldier. (sweetest last name ever)

My Pawpaw, a retired Colonel for the US Army.

Happy Veteran’s Day