I married a super hero

  • Published
  • By Ali Leone
  • Carolina Flyer contributing writer
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFPN) --  I am blessed to be part of an elite group. You see, I am married to a super hero. He’s not a super star, rock star or even a politician -- not that I would necessarily brag about that in this day and age. He’s not even rich. But he is even better than all of those things combined -- he is a member of the U.S. armed forces.

Until recently, I viewed my husband only as a wonderful partner and outstanding father. And as the “annoying one” who left a mess for me to clean up and sounds like he is sawing logs in his sleep.

But while talking to my best friend’s son, Seth, on the phone last night, I began to see him in a new light. I asked Seth what he was going to be for Halloween and he told me a super hero. I laughed and asked him which one. He sighed heavily into the phone and said, “Well, of course, I am going to be a military soldier.”

Having never met him, I told Seth that my husband was in the military. He got really excited and asked, “You’re married to a super hero? You’re a super hero’s wife?”

I was somewhat surprised by his hero worship of the military, but then began to realize he wasn’t alone in his thinking. In those rare, but free moments, I enjoy chatting on the computer. Since my husband is the primary king of this domain, I bear his nickname each time I log on. He chose his military rank as his username.

It never fails that each time I log in and begin to chat, someone will ask me if I am a “real” servicemember. I explain to them that I am married to a servicemember, and I am a former soldier as well.

The response is always the same, “Thank you and God bless.” It then carries into a conversation about all the great men and women who serve our country, and how much they appreciate those who sacrifice so much for others whose names they don’t even know.

Sometimes, I will run across a former servicemember or family member, who, like me, is proud of having served this great nation. They will often share their own experiences.

I thrive on these conversations because they offer me support and hope for the future. Being a military spouse is unique to other marriages. It can be more stressful and heart wrenching than most.

We don’t see our spouses off to work, coat and briefcase in hand. We send them off to perfect their skills, train to defend and prepare for war. All the while, knowing that at any moment they may be called upon to act in defense of our country.

We deal with ever-changing schedules, constant moves, new schools, new homes and finding new jobs each time the family relocates. Then there are the training exercises, schools and deployments that take our spouses away for months on end. Sometimes we know when they are coming home; sometimes we don’t.

We hold down the home front while they are gone, keeping spirits up for our children and our spouses. And we pray. Because that’s what the spouse of a super hero does.

Our super heroes do these things without fail, day in and day out -- aches, pains, complaints and personal dreams set aside. They don’t do it for the money or the fame; they do it out of selflessness and honor. Their love of this country runs deeper than most can fathom. Their willingness to put their lives on the line for the protection of our nation flows through their blood.

As you can see, they sacrifice so much, and for that I take my newly bestowed title of “Super Hero Wife” very seriously.

Before hanging up the phone with my friend’s son, I asked him why he thought military members were super heroes. His response was simple, but true: They are super heroes because they will give up their lives so that others might live better.

He told me that when he grew up, he was going to be in the military because he watched them on the news and knows that we are all safe, because the military defends us from all the bad guys. I, of course, agreed -- but I might be a little biased. After all, I am “Super Hero Wife.”