40 years.

This past weekend, I went home to celebrate my uncle’s forty (yes, forty) years of service to the United States Army. In honor of his incredible achievement and the impact he has had on my own life, my Aunt Lori asked me to write him a letter. I read (more like slobbered through in very ugly tears) this letter at his retirement party, but thought some of you might enjoy seeing it here.

Dear Uncle (Sergeant Major/SGM) Wayne,

The beginning of our relationship {based on my 2-3 year old little girl memory} started over my incessant requests to be “fwipped” (translated flipped) between your knees and over your shoulders. Every holiday, Sunday at church, or otherwise, I associated you with “fwips” and piggyback rides and F-U-N – always lots of fun! You would play frisbee or softball or hide & seek with all of us — whatever our game of choice was at the time without hesitating. As I got older, you continued to be Uncle Fun, but we also had some pretty memorable and serious chats. During high school, I specifically remember your preparation to deploy to Iraq. I was 101% positive I wanted to be a nurse even back then so I asked you, “What happens if you get hurt while you’re away in Iraq?” You reassured me there were Army nurses deployed with you who would help care for any injured soldier. You said they would be part of a hospital unit specifically designed with a mission to help wounded service members and that anyone trained as a nurse could do that if they signed up to be in the Army. I didn’t realize it then, but in hindsight, that small nugget got tucked deep into my little brain and left an imprint I couldn’t shake.

Fast forward about a year – I got accepted into UVa’s School of Nursing. And a few months after that, I got a letter in the mail from UVa’s Army ROTC program. It said, “Try us out. We will pay for your tuition for a year and if you don’t like it, there’s no obligation.” To be quite honest, all I read was “free money” so I decided to try it out. That conversation we had about Army nursing was still running around in my head. My first few weeks at college, I took an Army Physical Fitness Test – unbeknownst to me – it would be the first of many. I spent the next 4 years at UVa’s Army ROTC program and commissioned as a 2LT upon graduation. As a part of Army tradition, each 2LT gets to choose who will give them their first salute. I was more than honored and thankful to have you, SGM Uncle Wayne, since you had been such an instrumental part of my decision to serve. I truly thought the story would end there with a nice, short, sweet salute between us, but the story didn’t end – it was only just beginning.

When I think back on some of the most impactful experiences of my life, I have you to thank for many of them. I often reflect on the 3 years spent assigned to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center taking care of some of the most wounded service members coming from Iraq and Afghanistan. I think of the incredible opportunity to travel all over Europe and make lifelong memories with my best friends and closest family. I think of when I was deployed to Afghanistan and got to see some of the bravest men and women continue to persevere after devastating injuries.

So I guess you’re wondering why I’m talking about me and MY story when this is really about YOU and the celebration of YOUR Army story. Well, here’s why. You see if it weren’t for YOU and your story, I wouldn’t have my story to tell now. I owe many of my biggest life lessons and experiences to you and your example of selfless service to your country and loyalty to your assignment as a senior non-commissioned officer. It started with a simple conversation when I was 17 years old. That story of yours will always be a part of my own.

I am so thankful for the love and support you and Aunt Lori have shown me over the last 10 years – from taking me to pick out my first uniform, to visiting me not once but TWICE while I was living in Europe, to sending me care packages of Nutella and banana bread – you both have been there each step of the way.

And yes – maybe I wrongfully started writing this letter specifically to you, Uncle Wayne. I should have included Aunt Lori. I know you have not done these last 4o years in the military in isolation. I am so thankful for an aunt who has supported you, sacrificed with you, provided you strength, and unconditional love so you could do all you have for our country. Aunt Lori, for that and so many other reasons, we love you!

Uncle Wayne, you will likely never see, meet, or even know all the people you have impacted with your integrity and personal courage. So I hope this weekend and always, this letter (and the many others you have received) can serve as a representation of the undefinable impact you have had on the Army, your units, but most of all the soldiers and people you have worked for and with along the way.

So, in closing – a big congratulations to you and Lori. Thank you for all you’ve sacrified, given, and impacted over the last 4 decades.

All my love,

Kristie