A family full of Veterans

By Carolyn Anders
Special to
The Pittsburg Gazette

Veteran’s Day has always held a special meaning to me because I come from a long line of men who served, and are still serving, our country.  A small, tin photograph of two brothers, who are distant relatives of mine, sits on an antique roll-top desk in my living room. The photo was taken before they went into the Civil War, and through research I found that one brother returned and, unfortunately, the other did not.  Whenever I walk by or happen to dust off the picture, I think about the sacrifice that these men were willing to make.  I can’t help but smile because next to that photo is a picture of my son, Chad, smiling broadly as he shakes the hand of Vice President Joe Biden.  Chad is a Master Chief petty officer in the United States Navy and is the chief recruiter for the navy recruiting district of San Diego, California. I can truthfully say that every time I hear “Anchors Aweigh” the tears start flowing.  Chad has been in the navy for 26 years as of next February and will retire in four years, and Pat and I are so proud of our son.  
Pat is an army veteran from the Vietnam War era, and even though he did not have to go to Vietnam, the rewards both of us have reaped from his tenure in the service can never be replaced.  He spent the majority of his service time in south Alabama as an air controller and was fortunate enough not to be sent to Vietnam like so many others. Believe it or not, Pat cries too when he hears “Anchors Aweigh”, so both of us are real softies when it comes to patriotism.  
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