Two years ago I was set off on an emotional odyssey when my children left on their military careers. You see for every person fighting for our freedom there is a family supporting them, hopefully not walking away from them.

From the act of taking them to MEPS with the small duffle of supplies I packed for them from a list given to us at the recruiting station. This list is the one that may very well be the last one you help them pack, be it because they never move back home or because they never make it back alive- God forbid.

Yes, my children wrote that blank check made payable to "United States of America" for an amount "up to and including their life" I was there when they signed it and I have never lost sight of what that means. As a mother that is fiercely protective of her children- this was the most unnatural thing for me to bless.

But how could I do anything but stand by these children, who would shortly transform into soldiers? It was their future, their dreams, their love of country that was driving them.

I read their letters from basic training as they were being conditioned to all aspects of combat. There was the will to succeed in those letters written with such exhaustion. I could tell in the words they used that they pushed themselves to write, that they sacrificed minutes of sleep to make sure I heard from them. I knew, in those small details that my work had not been in vain- they where finding the last drop of strength left to give to their family, what more would I ever be able to ask of them?

Then the grueling studying they were put through to learn their jobs at AIT. They couldn't just take a day off from classes they had to pass or fail and fail was not an option. My kids learned that lesson there - of 100% commitment. Their life and that of the person next to them depended on it.

My son is now an air traffic controller at a tower here stateside for the time being and my daughter is part of the 82nd Airborne Unit.

Today I remember all those that served before them especially the ones that touched their life in positive example of selfless service of their country.

And I honor my children, 24 and 22 two amazing people that endured so much in their short lives and found a way to turn those experiences into strength of character and loyalty. I deeply appreciate the sacrifices that they have made in their lives to keep our country free.