For eight of the last 20 years, a yellow ribbon has hung around a tree in my mom’s yard representing the overseas deployments of my brother-in-law and myself to places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Like my grandfather, I enlisted as a teenager and have served with the U.S. Army for nearly two decades now. War is a time of unimaginable uncertainty, but I can always count on the endless packages and letters from home with words of love and encouragement not just for myself, but also for the many troops without the support of family. Arlene Jones, a Blue Star Mom, is a proud patriot who knows well both the sacrifice and honor of supporting a member of the armed forces. To my fellow comrades, veterans, and their family members, you can count on this: she’s got your six.
Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Gangl
Brainerd
