Honoring Our Veterans

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous day! For those that know me, know that I love the military, HOOAH. I'm a Navy brat and an Army wife. While this post has absolutely nothing to do with the science behind personal care products, it has everything to do with honoring our nation's Veterans.

My husband is on his 25th year in the Army. The military has been very good to me and my family. Growing up in a military home, I learned discipline from a very early age. Moving every 3 years molded my personality. Saying goodbye to old friends and hey to new friends was an emotional cycle, and one I'm very glad to have experienced. It especially helped me in my teenage years when being a follower would have been an easy choice.

When my husband Prevo returned home in 2006 from a tour in Iraq, he wrote the song, 'Veteran's Hand'. It's about his experience while being in a foreign land, away from the comforts of home and everything you know. Away from everything you hold to be true and dear to your heart. Last year, Dennis, a brother in arms, contacted Prevo to ask permission to use his song in a video to honor Veterans. Some of you may have seen this video on my post last year and I wanted to share it again.

Our Nation's Veterans, past and present, deserve to be honored for their dedication, service and sacrifice. A favorite quote by Gen. MacArthur says it all, "Duty," "Honor," "Country" - those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you want to be, what you can be, what you will be".

Thanks to all Veterans and their family members. I greatly appreciate your dedication, service and sacrifice. You will never be forgotten.

Thanks for stopping by y'all. Have a wonderful day!

Duty, Honor, Country

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. Today we honor all military veterans, past and present. This day is especially dear to my heart because of my strong military connections.


My father served 22 years with the U.S. Navy and is a Vietnam veteran. My husband, Prevo, is presently serving active duty in the U.S. Army National Guard and is an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. My two favorite men on the face of this earth know about sacrifice. They know about Duty, Honor, Country.

Today I am honoring all of those who served and fought for their country. Spoken by General Douglas MacArthur at his farewell speech, "Duty," "Honor," "Country" - those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you want to be, what you can be, what you will be".

When Prevo was deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006, his unit was given the task of Route Clearance. For those that do not know what this means, his unit was responsible for clearing routes of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's). Talk about being on pins and needles every minute of the day until I heard from him.


Prevo has many nicknames and one of which is Shrek. He took a Shrek figure with him to Iraq and pretty much carried him everywhere he went as his good luck charm.

“The training a soldier receives before leaving home can never compare to the experience learned in battle but it helps to increase the chances that the soldier makes it back home.” ~ Prevo Rodgers, Jr.


While in Iraq, Prevo had a favorite place to go to unwind, write music and sing songs that reminded him of home. Before he left for Iraq, we went to the local bar in town to gather with all of our friends and members of our community. We took several shirts for people to write well wishes for Prevo. He is pictured above on that rooftop in Iraq, wearing a shirt signed by many who attending the gathering.


May we always remember the fallen and continue to pray for those in harms way. Take some time today to honor all veterans, past and present. They have sacrificed all to provide the umbrella of freedom we sometimes take for granted.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy