Toy Thursday: Even Veterans Need Toys

Happy Veterans Day! Be sure to tell a Veteran "Thank you" today...or any day. As they put their lives on the line for your freedom.

Seeing as today is "Toy Thursday", I thought it would be appropriate to write about a toy that my husband ended up with in Iraq. My husband was not able to go trick or treating with our son on his second Halloween because he was in Iraq. I had decided to dress Liam as a monkey, and a little monkey came with his costume.

Liam the monkey and his monkey

So Daddy would feel included, I sent the monkey to Iraq. Daddy loved it. Even though he was carrying a M-16 anytime he went outside of his room, he still had his toys to make it feel a little more like home.

Toys in Iraq

He told me that on his way home, he had packed his big green bag so that the monkey was hanging out of the top. People in the airport would applaud and then laugh or "awww" when they saw the monkey peeking out of the top of his duffel bag.

So on Veterans Day, thank a Veteran. They're a son, daughter, brother, husband, sister, wife, mommy or daddy to someone. And even though they face death daily, they still have a soft side.