My husband, retired USMC Sgt Major David Tainsh, recalls being spit on at Los Angeles airport when he returned from Vietnam. He remembers well the protests and no reverence for the United States Armed Forces. He never received a parade.

Because of this I have vowed to speak in honor and support of our military, our wounded, our fallen, and their families, and especially on behalf of my husband since the death of his only biological child and namesake, U.S. Army cavalry scout Sgt Patrick Tainsh, in Baghdad, Iraq, 11, February, 2004.

But I have also promised to acknowledge with much gratitude those who receive no media or bright lights, yet currently show support, compassion, and honor for our military and their families. The case in point goes today to Oceanside, California, near Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, which recently staged an emotional tribute to honor Oceanside's fallen and their families.

As my husband and I lived in Oceanside for eighteen years due to his service at Camp Pendleton with 11th Marines, and this was Patrick's home of record, we were invited along with six other families for the July 4th parade held on Saturday, July 1.

As honored guests and in remembrance of our loved ones, we found ourselves on this sun filled morning seated in convertibles that moved slowly down Oceanside's Coast Highway. Along the sidewalks, over 5000 observers wore red, white, and blue apparel, patriotic hats, saluted, waved flags and shouted, “Thank You.” This sight along the parade path prompted me to wipe away tears of gratitude that crept from beneath my sunglasses.

All of the honored families returned waves and smiles in appreciation of this caring recognition. And following the parade, at noon, we felt even more gratitude when 3-by-9-foot banners of our loved ones were unveiled – banners created by American Heroes Tribute, a non profit organization located in Costa Mesa, California, co-founded by President, Robert Pfeiler. Pfeiler, a man my husband and I have come to appreciate, says he developed his appreciation for the military and their families by listening to their stories and feeling their pride when in their presence.

Through volunteers and ongoing fund raising, the organization has pledged to create these great banners to memorialize every fallen soldier of Iraq and Afghanistan and hang them on city streets across the nation so our loved ones will not be forgotten.

Tears that fell from family members were those of pride in our loved ones and gratefulness to those who cared enough to request our presence at the parade and later to honor us with the larger than life size banners. On this day there was no doubt that others cared and would never forget the sacrifices made by America's military families. These wonderful sincere people will never comprehend how they provided a ray of light that pierced the darkness of grief and allowed surviving military family members to stand a little taller, stronger, and prouder.

During this event, where I was also a guest speaker, I hoped every city and town in America would find such ways to provide the same consideration to their resident fallen heroes and their families. After all, it should be a matter of importance to remember and honor the less than one-percent of America's families who sacrifice on behalf of a nation. But I'm sure many don't understand this – I didn't until I became a military wife and mom to a fallen soldier.

And now that I've experienced this “new revelation,” I will speak for my military and their families as long as I have breath, and announce “thanks” to those like the city of Oceanside, California, the American Heroes Tribute, Marine Quilts, Angels of Hope, and others who show continued support to the United States military families that this nation, as we know it, could never have survived without.