It's all about the service

Sure, it's nice to have a 3-day weekend and a day off from work. Sleeping late was great. But I want to stop for a minute and remember those family members of mine who have served or are still serving:

My dad, Lt. Col. Charles Floyd, who died on New Year's Day 2001, joined the Army Air Corps, became a pilot, and served in the AAC, which became the US Air Force, until he retired in 1973. I think he was in the AF for about 30 years.

My brother-in-law Tom graduated from the Air Force Academy and served in the Air Force.

My brother Chuck went through ROTC at SW Texas State and North Texas State, and gave a full career to the Air Force. He's now retired from the AF and working as a math teacher in Ingram, Texas.

My brother Barry, who died 5 years ago, joined the Air Force and served 5 or 6 years. The Air Force took him to South Dakota, where he met his wife Alice. She's a true sister to me.

My husband Don joined the Air Force in 1967, and retired after 23 years in 1990. We met while I was stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany, and we've been together 30 years.  He's been stationed at McCoy AFB(now closed - Orlando, FL), Myrtle Beach AFB SC, Korat RTAB in Thailand, Ramstein AB Germany, Rhein-Main AB Germany, Norton AFB CA, and Zweibrucken AB Germany. I've probably left something out, but those are the ones I remember either hearing about or being there with him.

My father-in-law Gene is a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer. He met and married Don's mother Erika when he was stationed in Augsburg, Germany.

My brother-in-law Wayne is retired from the Air Force. His last base was at Keflavik, Iceland.

My brother-in-law Bob served in the Army, and was at Mannheim, Germany when we were at Rhein-Main.

My son, Staff Sergeant Kenny Holman, has been in the Air Force for 8 years. He's been to Hill AFB in Utah, Kunsan AB in Korea, Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Manas AB in Kyrgyzstan, Kadena AB in Japan, and is currently at Holloman AFB in New Mexico.

My nephew Charles served in the Marines. Theresa and I drove down to see him when he was going through basic training in San Diego.

My niece Nikki served in the Air Force. We saw her last when we were camping at Lake Mead and she was newly married to Alex, who is in the Air Force.

I went through AFROTC at Texas Tech University, and served 2 years with the AF at Rhein -Main AB in Germany. That's where I met Don and where our daughter Theresa was born.

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone - if I did, I'll add them later!