Thanking soldiers for our freedom

Learned a long time back not to write about things I know nothing about.

Sgt. Kyle Lovelady, the soldier in today’s photo, changed my mind for one day. I’ll return to him in a minute.

It's the Fourth of July week. It’s fireworks, burgers on the grill, plenty of red, white, and blue, and the general happiness that accompanies our nation’s birthday bash.

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I’m an American. Been one all my life. Other than visiting our former good friend, Canada, and a few cruise-type excursions, I’ve never been out of the country. I say that because people who do visit foreign lands often return with stories of kissing the tarmac when they arrive home, because there is nothing like the good ol’ US of A.

War and destruction are everywhere. Every single morning when I rise, I say a prayer for those in Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Iran, Gaza — all the places where a simple moment of peace is impossible. There are places where humans start the day in unspeakable chaos and end the day in unspeakable chaos. They have no say in the matter.

Back home, our country is fraught with division. For the past 20 years or so, half the country has been happy while the other half is angry. The mood shifts from one side to the other, depending on which political party controls the White House and Congress.

Still, we celebrate. Why? Freedom!

We have freedoms and luxuries that other countries only dream about. The freedom to do and say as we please, within reason. Americans cherish our freedoms. We guard them like a hawk.

Actually, people like Sgt. Kyle Lovelady guards them for us.

Sgt. Lovelady is an Army recruiter in the Inverness office. He reached out to me a few weeks ago, wondering if I could write something about recruitment.

We met for a Cattle Dog chat. Kyle, who comes from a military family, joined the Army 13 years ago. He was a Senior Artilleryman and now a recruiter. In seven years, he’ll be eligible for military retirement.

Sgt. Lovelady said the Inverness office signs up about 50 recruits every year. If the other military branches have similar numbers, that’s about 200 or so young Citrus Countians making decisions to protect their futures, and ours.

Contact info, if interested:

• The Army recruitment office is at 2607-B Gulf to Lake Hwy., Inverness. Sgt. Kyle Lovelady, 352-460-9438.
• Navy Recruiting Office, 2419 SW 27th Ave., Suite 3, Ocala; 352-622-4270.
• Air Force Recruiter, 7030 Coastal Blvd., Brooksville; 352-422-0790.
• Marines Recruiter, 3776 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa; 352-978-5576.
• Coast Guard, 8427 S. John Young Parkway, Orlando; 206-815-6175.
• National Guard, 8551 W. Venable, Crystal River, 352-795-6190.

I mentioned at the top about avoiding unfamiliar subjects for blog topics. Few topics are more unfamiliar than military. I’m not a military person; my dad was an Army weatherman in World War II, that’s about as far as it gets in the family.

I’ve learned not to even fake it. Active military and veterans can spot a fake a mile away — you really can’t pull anything over on a military man or woman.

So I’m not going to try. I’m just going to say this:

Thank you. Seriously. Most of us say it when we see a man or woman in uniform: “Thank you for your service.”

We wouldn’t be enjoying the fireworks, barbecues, or colorful patriotic attire if not for those who join the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, or National Guard. I know it’s a cliche, but true. It’s the Sgt. Kyle Loveladys who quietly go about their task keeping us out of harm’s way.

So, on this America’s birthday week, a humble thanks to those in uniform. We wouldn’t be here without you. Literally.

— Unrelated, nearly 150 people — more than the total number who attended four town hall meetings — have taken the local option sales tax online survey. Let’s keep it going! The survey is here.

Have a great Tuesday, friends.

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