For eight years, my family lived the military life. We were bound by the rhythm of military service: deployments, many moves and the unspoken solidarity of those who understand the unique sacrifices of military life. The friends that became family, the structure, the sense of purpose, it all shaped our daily existence. But now, it has been almost a year since my husband received his DD-214, we packed up our belongings, and moved to Madison to live close to family for the first time in our married life.
For years, as a family we’ve known the rhythms of military life: the unwavering discipline, the long stretches of deployment that left us missing each other and so many moments together as family. We’ve been part of a community where sacrifice and service were understood, where every day was shaped by duty to something greater than ourselves. But now, as we hang his military memorabilia on the walls, he’s decided to exchange his camouflaged uniform for a badge and a squad car and we are forced to redefine what it means to serve.