Why I honored my father and wife
Parents, Spouses, Employers and Veterans provide steadfast support to our Soldiers, keeping our Army strong — both in good times, and in times of trial. Freedom Team Salute provides the opportunity to recognize and honor those who support our Soldiers and U.S. Army Veterans.
At public events, Freedom Team Salute provides the opportunity for Soldiers to share gratitude for their supporters. The comments below are from an April 9th Freedom Team Salute ceremony during the Army Aviation Association of America Convention in Washington, D.C. For more information, please see the back page.
“Sherri has been a constant strong and loving wife through 24 years of active military service. She has been my advisor, confidant, and teacher, and always picks me up when I fall. Being an Army wife is the toughest job in the Army, and she makes it look ease. Sherri is a patriot mother and wife who, by her selfless service, sacrifice, and dedication to our immediate and extended family, the Army, and the community, provide me with unmatched inspiration. Sherri is always standing strong, scared to death with a tear in her eye at separations, and with a smile on her face, a tear in her eye, and love and pride in her heart at reunions. She has provided unwavering devotion through eight PCS moves, two overseas tours, three peacekeeping missions, three combat tours, single parenting, tons of TDY’s, and countless schools and other duties.”
— Chief Warrant Officer Johnny W. Judd honoring his wife Sherri
“I have been serving in the Army for about five years now, most of the time overseas or at
war. And one of the most comforting thoughts is how much love and support I can always count on
from my mother and father. They have been there to send me those famous southern Alabama boiled
peanuts, all the way to the far edges of the world to make this Soldier’s day. It’s
amazing how much the little things matter when you don’t have them anymore. The simplicity
of just glancing at a picture of the ones you love after returning from a long day’s mission
in combat was always a quick reassurance of why you put it all on the line day after day. My mother
and father raised me to always do the very best that I can do in everything. Knowing that throughout
my career in the Army has helped me become the best Soldier, squad leader, and crew chief that I
could have ever hoped to be. Even though I am usually more than eight thousand miles away from home,
my parents are always there for me, regardless if I call at 03:00 on a Monday morning, waking them
several hours before they would normally be up.”
— Sergeant Corey A. Haynes honoring his parents, Jenny and James Haynes
Clifford J. Richmond Jr. honoring his father, Clifford J. Richmond Sr. and his wife, Linda Richmond
“My father set the example and gave me my core values that continue to serve me well today. He worked two jobs for over forty years in the same two machine shops from 06:30 to 21:30, five days a week, and until noon on Saturdays. The only time he took off was to attend one of his children’s Boy Scout meetings or wrestling matches, or to watch his daughters cheer at high school sports events. Besides work ethic and loyalty, my father defines integrity and morality, and his presence will forever weigh in the choices I make.”
— CWO5 (retired) Clifford J. Richmond Jr. honoring his father, Clifford J. Richmond Sr.
“During training exercises and even more so during deployments in hostile environments, it is left to the spouse to be both mother and father — to get the kids off to school, help with their homework, bandage their bruises, clean the house, keep up with the yard work, pay the bills, change the oil, rotate tires, provide security at night, and write to the deployed spouse… often while expecting only sporadic replies. Linda has done all this and more, and still remains my strongest supporter and champion. Through her devotion and dedication, our family’s love and bond grow stronger every day.”
— CWO5 (retired) Clifford J. Richmond Jr. honoring his wife Linda