They continue

The members of our Armed Forces continue to deploy, even though it seems this fact doesn't get into the mainstream media much any more.

And they continue to return home. 

This morning, while eating breakfast at a diner aboard a Marine Corps installation, just a few feet away were several ladies and children.  The young ladies wore identical t-shirts, imprinted with the name and symbol of a military unit.  The kids raised in age from newborns, whose fathers were overseas when they were born, to elementary school age.  The older kids also wore the unit t-shirts.

From another source, I knew the unit named on the t-shirts was returning from another overseas deployment.

Looking at those military wives, I saw a mixture of excitement, fatigue, and relief.  Excitement at the imminent return of their Marines.  Fatigue from running the household solo during the length of the deployment.  Relief that their husbands were returning safe.

Sitting there, it occurred to me the 99.5% of America that does not serve in the Armed Forces probably isn't aware (or care) that our men and women continue to go in harm's way, continue to deploy overseas, and continue to leave young wives and families for months on end.

They continue to serve proudly.