Honoring Veterans, Celebrating My Daddy
Today, on Veterans Day, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the men and women who have served. Thank you for your courage, your sacrifices, and the unwavering commitment you’ve shown in safeguarding our freedoms and making the world a safer place. Today, my thoughts turn especially to one veteran I’m incredibly proud of—my daddy.
My father served in the Coast Guard. Growing up, my sisters and I didn’t ask much about his time in the service, but thankfully, he gained a son-in-law (the Hubs) who is curious! Over the years, the Hubs has shared stories about my dad’s time in the Coast Guard, filling in many of the details I missed.
I have two stories that reveal a lot about who my dad is—then and now. Before he joined the Coast Guard, he and his best friend, who happened to be my mom’s cousin, used to babysit for my mom. After his service, he saw her walking down the school hallway and couldn’t believe it was the same Susie Hermanson. And the rest, as they say, is history—a love story that grew out of friendship.
The second story isn’t as sweet. My dad was so proud to serve in the Coast Guard, yet his time wasn’t always easy. He experienced poor treatment because of his religion—a detail I learned from my husband. I bet you can’t guess what religion with a name like Mervyn Hurwitz. Lol. As the Hubs likes to say, it’s a good Irish name, right? In a way, it doesn’t surprise me that he kept quiet about this. My dad is one of the kindest, most gracious people I know, always handling even the tough times with strength and grace—which I have only come to realize with time.
That kindness is just who he is. Compared to him, I sometimes think I look downright mean! I remember a night when I was working at the stadium and gave my sweatshirt to a young woman who was shivering, possibly on something, just trying to get by. I felt pretty good about that small act of kindness, but when I told my dad, his reaction was classic him. “That’s all you did? You should have done more.” That’s just his heart—always more to give.
My dad was the softer voice in our home, with my mom holding down the “tough” role. One day, he was helping me clean out my closet and stumbled upon a pack of cigarettes I had hidden. My heart nearly stopped. But instead of a lecture, he laughed, tossed them in the trash, and moved on. I’m pretty sure my mom would have had a very different response. That’s just how my dad rolled—always with love and humor. Why didn’t I see this as a child?
A few months ago, he shared that his nickname in the Coast Guard was “Smiley.” He joked that he doesn’t smile as much these days, but I beg to differ. He still lights up a room, especially when he’s around his family. He told me recently, “I smile when I look at you.” That melted my heart, and naturally, we had to take a selfie together. We ended up giggling, just like we always do—two “smileys” enjoying the moment.
I see so much of him in myself, and it’s an honor beyond words. We may have different lives and personalities, but our hearts? Those are the same. So today, I honor him and every veteran who has given their all. Thank you, Dad, for your service, your strength, your resiliency, and for showing me what kindness looks like every day.
