Today is Memorial Day and there is one veteran that I want to talk about.

He is my dad.

My dad was in the Navy. I know he gets a little annoyed and embarrassed when he is referred to as a veteran, but he went through a ton of stuff while in the navy. He may not have fought in a war, but he is as much a veteran as a lot of other people. Hell, he is more so a veteran than me or any other schmo who did not serve in any branch of the military. I am very anti war, anti any use of violence to get what you want, but I feel like I became that way because of my father. He never really talks about his time in the navy, or when he does, it is a hilarious story that I enjoy more and more every time I hear them. But my dad is a liberal, or has liberal leanings, even if he will never admit it. He listens to Bob Dylan, he was in a rock/psychedelic band in the 60's, he has many thoughts and feelings about politics and he is just an overall great person. He instilled that in all of us, me and my three brothers that is. I have always wondered why he never really goes into great detail about his time in the navy, but maybe he never did because he didn't want that for me and my brothers. I feel like he joined the navy because it was a way to go to college and to make money. I think he wanted better for us, as all parents do. So he never pushed us. He never told us about how "great" the military could be. He never talked about why we should join and what we could get out of it if we did. I have always appreciated that.

In fact, both my parents let us pave our own path in life. They let us be free thinkers as kids. That is why we are the way we are today, and that is awesome. Me and my three brothers, we all lean liberal. I feel like I am a near progressive democrat, my oldest brother is pretty liberal, my brother closest in age to me is liberal and RD, he is a liberal, no matter how much he will deny it. But our parents also let us question things and talked to us about these things if asked. I do know some of my dad's navy history, but only because I have asked. I know how my parents acted and behaved while my dad was stationed in Rota, Spain and my mom went there to see him, again because I have asked. And I know why he doesn't like being referred to as a veteran because we have had many conversations about it. But again, I think his time in the navy shaped who he became, and helped him with discipline and other things that you have to be able to do as a husband and father.

I adore my father. He is my best friend. He is the person I strive to be when I grow up. He is my idol. So on this Memorial Day, and yes my dad is very much alive, I want to thank him for all he has done. Not just in the navy and the time he served in the military, but for everything he has taught me, my brothers and the rest of our family. My dad rules. He is cooler than any other dad in the world. This is simply an appreciation piece to my dad, the GOAT.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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