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Honoring Our Veterans - Barksdale AFB, LA and All Families

by on ‎05-26-2014 11:51 AM

We’re at the end of our month-long salute to the military servicemen and servicewomen on In the Kitchen with David. Please make no mistake, they may be highlighted this month, but we are, and will be grateful for their sacrifice, always.


Our last virtual-stop this month? Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. As we have learned this month, a lot of our military bases have a “host unit” and Barksdale falls into this category too. Their host unit is the 2d Bomb Wing which is the oldest one of its kind in the Air Force. The unit itself is steeped in history which is represented in their motto: Libertatem Defendimus (when directly translated means “Liberty We Defend). Yet again, we find ourselves in a position of gratitude and we pass on our sincerest thanks to everyone at Barksdale for their service.


I have covered some military history in my blogs this month. No matter what branch of service, no matter what time in history, all military bases have the greatest support system available in place: family. My Dad is my hero: always has been, always will be. But so has my Mom. She truly is the unsung hero of our family. She grew up Navy and then married Army. I asked her to share what they military means to her. Here is what she wrote:


Growing up in a Navy family, we moved often and long distances. None of this across town stuff for us, no. It was usually from one coast to another. Invariably we would be reconnected with families that we had known from a previous location in addition to meeting lots of new people. I was always fascinated with the speed with which the "old" friends caught up with each other and continued their relationships as though there had never been a break. When I married a soldier and began a family of my own I was amazed that the same phenomena occurred for me and my loved ones. I recently met up with a couple we've known and loved from a prior military assignment that I hadn't seen in more than 20 years. After five minutes of catchup we were back in our friendly, comfortable groove that had always been so natural for us. In the military, with all the changes, moves and unknowns you don't have the luxury of hanging back and deciding if you want to choose someone for a friend. That's time wasted. I've had the most amazing, wonderful experiences and best friendships that began with a shared glance when you look up and see another looking your way and smiling over a shared moment. I treasure all my friends but my military friends are a special category of courageous, funny, loving and tenacious souls. I'm proud of my roots....


I treasure my military family too. No matter if you served (or did not) or have a family member served (or did not) you knowsomeone that did. We all have that in common too. As a Foodie Family, let’s make sure to take care of each other, as best as we can, to honor the gift we were given. My deepest gratitude to all of you. ~ Mary DeAngelis