Peace, Paychecks & Gratitude
~~~
When I met Darren, in high school in Canada in 1988, he had aspirations to join the military, like his big brother, Darrell. He served a few years in the Canadian reserves before we got married, and then joined the U.S. Army for another 6 years. Thankfully his “time in” only provided us a paycheck, overseas travel, and educational opportunities, rather than the turmoil and pain I know many military families endure. After having our first child, Darren decided to take the leap back to civilian life. Some luck and good timing landed him a position with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He has worked there ever since, serving veterans, reshaping his own understanding of military service, and, being grateful for the peace and security it has afforded him, while honoring the sacrifices made by those who weren’t so fortunate.