The Story of My Pink Plastic Locket

Today I’m sharing the second half of my Thanksgiving Heroes story with La Brea Bakery. It’s Veteran’s Day here in the US, and there’s one veteran who will always, always have my heart. If you have somebody special who has sacrificed for others, read on to find out how you can give back to them!

The Story of My Pink Plastic Locket & My Hero

See that clunky pink plastic locket up there? The cover looks kind of like an iced cupcake, and it used to play “You Are My Sunshine” when opened. I used to wear that locket — just about as big as my own tiny hands — to remind me of my dad when he was out to sea for six months at a time. Twenty years in the Navy, 20 years of holidays, birthdays, and milestones spent aboard aircraft carriers. As a little girl, it was hard being too little to understand and holding onto a locket instead of a daddy, but now that I’m old enough to understand what he gave to us through his time away, it means the world. He enlisted straight out of high school (here he five years before I was born!) without ever attending college. He sacrificed so much for so long, and yet it wasn’t enough for him…

As he was retiring, he spent nights going back to school and earned a nursing degree. Since then, he has given so much of his time — still spending his holidays, birthdays, nights, and weekends — so that veterans, soldiers, and their families can have more holidays together.

He works tirelessly and without complaint in the ICU. In a setting that can be so emotionally draining, he never runs out of energy to share with others. His smile is infectious, and if that doesn’t work, he has a surprising arsenal of weird hats on reserve…

I’m getting totally choked up writing all this because I don’t get to see this guy nearly enough, and I’m sure I don’t often enough express my gratitude for everything he’s sacrificed over the years so that my brother and I could have every opportunity we wanted in life. I’m so proud of the man that’s going to set this beautiful example for the children I may someday have. The man who helped to teach me so much about selflessness and service to others.

Thanks for being such an incredible constant in my life, Papa Bird – I love you so much!

How to Enter the Thanksgiving Heroes Contest

La Brea Bakery, the leading artisan bread supplier in the U.S., is hosting a Thanksgiving contest. They’re asking people to nominate their Thanksgiving Hero: people they know and love who regularly work on Thanksgiving serving others, like military servicemen and women, firefighters and police, etc. La Brea Bakery will deliver fully catered meals to five finalists across the nation on Thanksgiving.

To nominate your own hero, click the “Thanksgiving Heroes” tab and fill in your contact information. Then, in 100 words or less, tell everyone about the loved one who won’t be at the table for Thanksgiving this year, and share a photograph of you together. Submissions must be received by November 15th 2015. Finalists will be announced November 17th 2015, after which the public will have a chance to vote for their favorites through November 20th 2015.

P.S. You can see my entry right here!

This post is sponsored by Single Edition Media on behalf of La Brea Bakery. Thanks for supporting partnerships that help me make Shrimp Salad Circus better for you!

For updates on the Thanksgiving Heroes Contest, follow La Brea on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.