To Those Who Fill the Boots and the Ones Who Support Them

As days turned to weeks and weeks to months, we watched the definition of “essential” broaden. Welcomed into the fold of essential workers were those vital to facilitating the daily activities of our lives. This included but was not limited to postal workers, grocery-store clerks, childcare personnel, and food production personnel. Teachers eventually joined this elite group of persons who we deemed essential as the delivery of our children’s education assumed the newest COVID spotlight.However, there is one group that was ever present but remained unnoticed. They came swiftly and willingly when called upon. They served where necessary and disappeared as fast as they had come. We applauded their efforts, as we typically do in the moment. We thanked them for their service and went on our way. They always come when called. They are military personnel. I often wonder if I notice them more because of my connection to them. My grandfather, uncles, and cousins have served. I have cousins who currently serve. Two of my closest friends, who are advanced practice nurses, are in this group as well. One is a certified midwife who has transitioned to civilian live; the other is a women’s health nurse practitioner who is active duty and recently stationed in South Korea. Not to mention, I have a number of high school, college, and nursing school classmates who are serving or have transitioned to civilian life.