Today’s mindful moment dedicated to a special soldier, my brother, Keith
soldiers
I Salute my Almost Forty Year Old Brother this Memorial Day Weekend
I do not like war. I wish with all my heart it did not have to be. But I salute all the men and women who have sacrificed so much, many times their lives, to protect our freedom. I’ve always been grateful, but I feel a bigger tug at my heart this Memorial Day weekend because my “little” brother, Keith, almost forty years old, is overseas. He will turn forty in June- usually a milestone in many lives- and he will be in a foreign land.
You may recall in earlier posts this year where I shared that my brother, who we affectionately called Ke-Ke when he was a small boy, joined the National Guards at 38 years old. He quit smoking, and left his family behind to pursue his dream. Most go off to boot camp at the tender age of eighteen or nineteen so Keith had his work cut out for him. But he did it, and I was so proud of him.
Since then I’ve gotten to see a side of him that is strong, proud, passionate, and determined. The mind and heart are powerful things. He set his mind to accomplish his goal and followed his heart knowing the risks- knowing he would need to leave everything behind. That takes a tremendous amount of courage.
So on this Memorial Day weekend I salute you little bro— You are my hero!
1157th Transportation Company. Saying Goodbye.
So proud of my “little”brother, Private 1st Class, Keith Pipping. Today was the official send off for 1157th Transportation Company. His mission was originally Kuwait, but now they head for Afghanistan. It was hard to say goodbye today. But it was wonderful attending the send off ceremony. The commitment, dedication, and team work was palpable in the air. It is something everyone should experience.
I thought about all the soldiers that have gone before Keith– those that had no choice but to go to war– and those, like my brother, who have made the choice to serve their country. I’m especially proud because he chose to serve his country but also the fact he did this later in life, at the age of 38. Made it through boot camp and now is being deployed at the age of 39. He will turn 40 while overseas.
Keith was one of the soldiers interviewed for Fox 11 News and being his big proud sister, I had to share: