Everyday I saw dad in his fatigues it was no big deal.
But the first time I realized he was in the U.S. Army was at a school play when I was in the second grade.
I peeked through the curtains at the audience while the National Anthem was playing and I saw dad standing at attention saluting.
Everyone else had their hands over their heart but dad was the only one in a uniform.
It was at that moment I knew dad was doing something special, that's when I first realized I was proud of my dad.

Dad is long retiered and I have been out of the Navy for twenty years but that image and feeling will be with me til I die.

There is nothing better than seeing a Soldier saluting and/or standing at attention. My husband, children and i visited the traveling Veitnam Memorial wall this summer. The energy was overwhelming!!

I love seeing colors being carried in a parade and retired vets saluting as they go by. It makes me proud to follow in their foot steps.

I am a Navybrat as you could probably tell by my SN. I am also a sister of a Navy man.

The first time I realized my father was in the military was when we were stationed in PA. My father was working in a brigg. So the kids at school never realized why we moved around so much. I guess when you are you do not understand much about that. But everyone always thought I was odd for moving around a lot. Now that I"m older they think it's cool I've lived in more than one state.

Folks I work with have lived their entire lives in this one area of the state of Texas.

I can't imagine spending my life in one place no more than they can imagine my life in many places.

I'm of the age now where my feet don't get that itchy anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by J79:
I can't imagine spending my life in one place no more than they can imagine my life in many places.

I'm of the age now where my feet don't get that itchy anymore.

I hear ya, but then again, I up'd and PCS'd myself from CT to FL 2 1/2 years ago, not sure it was the seven year itch since retirement or the need for warmth. Maybe both.

As for the original topic, I was lucky and by the time dad retired I was 6 so I did grow up in the same school system and never even got on a plane till I flew to boot camp. But I think that the pride in my dad came full throttle when I had been in a while and we had a common ground.

yeah not only i'm i a brat but also a grandkid and sibling, and a future in the military as well so its definitly a pride factor. everytime i hear the naional anthem my dad even retired stands at attention. ever since i can remember i've known ehat the military is and what it and the flag stands for its strictly pride for me. i am definitly a proud brat and sibling.

I am a proud kid still my dad been out for about 11 yrs and i have brother that is the army and any time i seen any one in uniform. i am so proud of my dad and every that has served.

i still get the 4 year itch to move or change something in my life.

I am also a proud Military Brat. My dad served in the Navy for 26 years and he was always my hero. I loved seeing him in his uniform on a daily basis. Military life was my family's lifestyle until I was a Sophmore in high school. It was a difficult transition for me and my siblings. I ached to be a part of the military life again. I met my husband in high school and he joined the National Guard, then went active duty Army, then back to the Guard full time. One of my brothers is an officer in the Marines and my sister is an officer in the Navy. I am so proud of them for serving their country. Our children are very proud of their dad. When he served over in Iraq the kids kept all of their friends up to date on what their dad was doing there. Our school was good about remembering him at special events and our kids stood and still do stand very proudly when the National Anthem is played. Our 17 year old son is following in his dads footsteps. He will be sworn into the National Guard in October this year. We are so proud.

I am an Army Brat and I am also newly married to a soldier. We moved to Minnesota when I was 8 and after that I was lost without moving every few years. Now that we are leaving for our first duty station next week, no one understands how I can just pick up and move on 3 weeks notice(he was prior service). Its a Brat thing.

with my brother.. i first TRULY realized he was a marine when i went to go visit him for his graduation ceremony... of course amongst alot of forces, the marines at extremely stric tabout alot more things and expecially "looks" so seeing my brother be in that tight HUGE formation coming out onto the field, giving their salutes and calls, and sound-offs and then their cheers, then being able to hug my rock solid brother, haha it was funny and it dawned on me the most... cause growing up he wasn't home that much to begin with so i was kinda used to him not being around (we're 10 years apart in age.. so when he graduated i was like... 11-12yrs or something...)

but my biggest pride in any military person.... was my husband... i've been with him for 4 years now, we've been married for only about 5 months now, dating for 3 years... and after graduating high school, i was the first person he told, and i think the only person he told (i found out through his sister that it wasn't until i drove him to the recruiters office to sign the papers that he told his mom. O_O) so i happy to know he was serious about us enough to want to bring it up with me first. i know that if i tried to convince him not to, he wouldn't have left... but i know that i would be one of the only people that could be with him and be there for him while he went through this... so i supported him and he left... the day i got to see him after what seemed to be months and months (which including reception, was close to it.. XD) it REALLY dawned on me... cause i wrote him every single day while he was in BCT, i never missed a day. as soon as i put one letter in the mail, i started another one! and even getting mail back, it didn't really hit me... until i saw my (then) boyfriend in formation on family day, as they spouted their sound-offs. i remember screaming, "WHOO MARTINEZ!!!!" and i saw him trying to hold back a giddy grin as i then knew we were there watching him (myself, his mother and his sister)..

i just watched him in his dress greens standing at attention as he tried so hard not to smile, and cry being so happy we came (it was just a drive from florida to georgia.. ^^ but still a long drive...<clermont to ft.benning>

i couldn't help but cry being so filled with pride for him! holding his hand while we walkd around on family day... i felt almost honored to be in his presence... kinda like... "here's a great man that has put his country before himself and is preparing himself for us! A great man that has trained his body, mind and soul to honor his great country!" and i was really kinda overwhelmed!

it was an awesome feeling though... hee hee and now we're married. XD

but we don't have any army brats atm, so we're hoping for a few more years. ^_^