Today is Veterans Day, and to celebrate the land of the free and the home of the brave, here are some pictures of the men and women of America's armed forces being welcomed back from overseas to the opened arms of their loved ones. The touching homecoming embraces are so sentimental I bet you'll break out into "God Bless America" before the end of the album!
We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango.
Obama is bringing the troops home from Iraq, and it's a single woman's perfect opportunity to snag a man in uniform. So, dust off your patriotic heels and show our men in service just how much you appreciate their sacrifices.
Even though dating someone in the military can be incredibly challenging on many different levels, there are numerous reasons why a man in the service could be your ideal beau:
Let's not pretend that the fact he's probably in the best shape of his life doesn't turn you on. The rigorous training he is committed to is part of his daily routine, and you get to reap the benefits of his occupation's strict physical and dietary habits. We'll salute to that.
Since your relationship will probably be long-distance at certain points and for long periods of time, communication becomes quintessential. This means lots of emails, chats, phone conversations, and snail mail. The possibility of epic literary confessions of love is immense.
Since he is often in unfamiliar environments, you know that he can take care of himself. He is trained to survive hostile circumstances and protect his fellow soldiers, so he knows what it takes to work as a team. He knows how to work together for a common goal, but he can also assess a difficult situation and figure out a solution on his own. This can translate well for relationships. After all, love can be a battlefield too.
To see three more reasons, check out YourTango: Bringing Home The Troops: 7 Reasons To Date A Military Man
Written by Lisa Thong for YourTango.
More from YourTango:
"You don't have to be straight to shoot straight," read one creative t-shirt protesting the military's ban on gay Americans serving openly. Today the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell" officially ended after almost 18 years.
"Don't ask, don't tell," instituted under Bill Clinton, was supposed to be a compromise of sorts. It prohibited discrimination or harassment against closeted gay or bisexual soldiers, while simultaneously banning or discharging openly gay soldiers. But in practice, it meant that gay or bisexual men and women who wanted to serve their country had to hide who they were, and it also meant that many valuable Americans were turned away from duty or discharged because of their sexuality.
Now that it's over, all Americans can serve regardless of their sexuality, and discharged servicemembers can re-enlist if they choose. It took a lot of passionate advocacy to get here today. Let's take a look back at some public protests of "don't ask, don't tell" over the years now.
We love Fab reader Asecondglance's casual take on military. It's a brilliant way to wear leggings on the weekend without seeming too casual; her military-chic look wisely uses a belt to create structure, patent shoes for a dapper twist, stripes for crispness, and a punchy yellow bag for a more fashion-forward element.
Congrats to Asecondglance!
Everyone else, submit your looks, and I might just feature you on FabSugar!
Kate Middleton showed she's in full fashion command in a military-inspired outfit by Alexander McQueen, and we're taking orders. She tucked her sharp blouse into a sailor-button pencil skirt that boasted a modest slit, accessorizing with her trusty nude hose and blue suede shoes. The duchess looked sharp and put-together in the complete look, but there are ways to work just a little military into your outfit. Take our shopping tips:
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After finding out that it was Justin Timberlake who convinced Mila Kunis to accept a Marine's YouTube Marine Corps Ball invitation, a female Marine turned the tables on JT and made her own request to the triple threat. It took some guts to call JT out on his peer-pressure move with Mila, so it'd be sweet of him to make the event. But his acceptance could also mean celebs will start getting a lot more military video requests! Watch the video now of the lady Marine nervously asking Justin Timberlake to accompany her to the Marine Corps Ball. Do you think he'll say yes?
Over the weekend, Mila was asked about the invitation in an interview, and her Friends With Benefits costar Justin Timberlake, who had seen the video, urged her to "do it for your country." After questioning her publicist about it, Mila agreed. I wonder if Mila will pull out one of her past awards-season gowns for the event. Watch Sgt. Moore ask Mila in the fearless YouTube video above!
You can go a few ways with military: the slouchy, masculine route, the gamine route, or a more polished route, which is what Fab reader Lillian Vikki did. She rolled up slouchy chinos — better to show off those sexy black heels — and layered a long, rather sleek utilitarian shirt-dress that she's wearing as a jacket for a total chic military look. We love the genius styling!
Congrats to Lillian Vikki!
Everyone else, submit your looks, and I might just feature you on FabSugar!
Abbey Lee Kershaw opened Versace Fall wearing a sharp military coat, like the sexy blond captain of an army of equally sexy soldiers, who marched down the runway in meticulously tailored dresses and coats. The clothes were cut tight to the body and bore geometric cutouts, subtly adorned with military-inspired gold buttons and pockets. Leather made an appearance in full leather skirts with matching leather jackets, a cool mix of badass uniform and chic sophistication. Behind the scenes, it's Donatella who is the real general at Camp Versace, drilling home Italian sexiness. It was a show heavy in black, but Versace's signature colors — turquoise and purple — popped up in an oversized baroque print and two-toned suede lace-up booties. For the finale, things got a bit more celebratory, with flowy gowns bearing thigh-high slits similar to Gucci, and Arizona Muse closing triumphantly in a white beaded gown.
It's been said that "army brats" know how to pack their bags and bid their goodbyes, but what happens when it's time for the kids to see their own parents off? While it's one thing when a husband or wife makes the conscious choice to marry a spouse who's in the military and bear the brunt of that decision, it's quite another for children of single parents to uproot their lives (yet again) to stay with relatives when mom or dad is deployed. A touching New York Times report examined the physical and emotional effects of such circumstances. It said:
And a paper published in the journal Pediatrics in late 2009 found that children in military families were more likely to report anxiety than children in civilian families. The longer a parent had been deployed in the previous three years, the researchers found, the more likely their children were to have had difficulties in school and at home.
What's your opinion?
