Nearly forty years ago today, a shy, naïve twenty-one-year-old young man kissed his new bride goodbye. Just twenty-one days after saying “I do,” he left for Air Force basic training, carrying with him both fear and hope, anxiety and ambition, and far more uncertainty than experience.
Yet none of us could have imagined then the journey that single moment would begin for us.
For more than two decades, our commitment served as a bridge between two centuries of warfare, and we witnessed firsthand the restructuring and reshaping of the world through war and resolve.
In the beginning, our military career and our young family stood steady through the lightning strikes of Panama, anchoring the home front through that moment of swift tactical precision in the late 1980s.
Soon after came the historic coalition of nations in Operation Desert Storm, and the Gulf War’s overwhelming conventional victory that defined the early 1990s.
Years later, in the late 1990’s, as the world shifted again in uncertainty, with two small children in tow, we stood ready once more as the conflict in Kosovo reminded us that peace is fragile and readiness is never optional.
As part of the essential military medical team, we upheld the constant high-alert readiness required during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. While others deployed forward, we remained the steady foundation behind them, ensuring the mission never faltered.
And then, we can never forget September 11, 2001, when the unthinkable happened, and war was no longer something unfolding oceans away, but threatening us in our own backyard.
Through all of this and more, we proudly witnessed the birth of the modern American warrior.
Despite defining conflicts, we lived through the tension, the readiness, and the uncertainty that come with serving a nation at war.
He supported the uniform.
I supported him,
holding down the home front, shouldering the worry, raising the family, and upholding the mission in the special ways military spouses always have.
As I look on this March 10th, nearly forty years since that goodbye kiss, I realize that I’ve lived a lot of life, made some incredible memories and had some magnificent adventures since then. But, those 20+ years in the Air Force created some of the best in my entire life.
I may not have worn the uniform in those days, or even be married to him anymore, but I walked the walk. I’ve been exposed to the triumphs and the tragedies, and I don’t take the freedom our flag represents for granted.
If you’re at a crossroads in your life, looking for a new path or seeking fresh direction, I encourage you to take the bold step, even if you’re unsure, anxious or inexperienced, and let the journey pave the way.
Because, in retrospect, I’d like to think that the decision made by two newly married kids, their unwavering commitment over two decades and through numerous conflicts, form part of the quiet foundation that keeps the American military strong. It sure molded us into who we are.
And I am proud to not only say ‘I served’, but ‘I lived, and I served during the defining arc of American superpower.’
© Michelle Bryant Griffin
