Today is June 17th – Father’s day.
It is suppose to be a day where I get to spoil you: to shower you with gifts, hugs and kisses and your favorite food. We go to church and sing songs celebrating you and how much you mean to us. I have been practicing each week for a while.
This week was filled with Dad’s and Donuts at school. Showing off all the ways I can “be like dad” with shaving, building and fixing. All the other children had their dad there with them. I missed you, dad. You are not here this year for Father’s Day.
But I want you to know that is ok.
I may be little, but you have already taught me so much. You show me how to be kind, help others and how important my family is. Mom tells me all the time how you are her best friend, how she is grateful that you love her and how proud of you she is. I am proud of you too! I hope you know that you are my best friend. Mom is great, but I simply adore you.
Thank you for all you do around here. Thank you for all the times you have been willing to be a horse “one more time”, to take me on adventures where we just go up into the look out and explore nature, and to play hide and seek in the tent. 
You teach me how to catch and hit a ball, and you comfort me when I am scared to slide down the big slide by myself. When you are home, you make each day special and take the time to help me learn new things and to become a better person.
You teach me that following through with your commitments is one of the most important things. That when you say you will do something, you do it. Even when it it hard.
You work hard.
You sacrifice your time and energy for something bigger than me, than us. You fight for your country, your home, your family, and you do it without thinking of yourself. You may not think I notice these things, that I am too little. But I do notice and I thank you.
I want to spoil you today with your favorite things: Some white cake with rainbow chip icing, calzones with sausage and black olives, or maybe a camping trip to the mountains. I did make you a card using your favorite color: red. I hope you love it!
Hopefully this Father’s Day has some celebration attached to it. Maybe in the chow hall there will be a special meal for you. Or maybe your favorite cake? That would be very special.
You deserve that, and more.
You deserve a break. Sometimes I feel like you’ve done your work, and it is time come home. But then I remember how important your work is; what you do contributes to the greater good, and I couldn’t ask for more than that. Even if I don’t fully understand it all just yet, I know you will teach me.
Because you are everything to me—my teacher, my hero, my partner in crime, my friend, and most importantly, my dad.
You may think that this letter is meant to be sad, but it’s not. It is to celebrate YOU. To THANK you for your sacrifice and service to our family and your country.
My siblings and I snuggle our Daddy Doll and special blankets and we feel you close.
So stay safe and be ready for some adventures when you come home again. Love you, dad! Happy Father’s day!
