05/27/2026
Last week, we downsized my mom into an apartment and sorted through old photos of my parents.
My dad, receiving a Purple Heart in Vietnam. My mom, being promoted to Lieutenant in the Navy.
And then there's my dad cutting a cake with a sword, in a moment of celebration.
That's the one I keep coming back to.
We honor sacrifice on Memorial Day, and we absolutely should. But military life is also filled with tradition, camaraderie, milestones, and moments of real joy. The ceremonies. The inside jokes. The pride of a career built in service.
My parents gave years of their lives to this country. But they also built a community, developed as leaders, and showed up for one another in ways both serious and celebratory.
That discipline and culture, sacrifice and celebration is something I try to carry forward every day.
To everyone who has served, and to the families behind them: thank you. For all of it.