As we welcome September and enter my birthday month as well as the 20 year anniversary of 9/11, I want to honor the great country I love so much and the soldiers and people who fight for our freedom, especially the brave 13 we lost last week in Afghanistan. That being said, I will be donating 10% of all planning fees as well as 10% of my September paycheck to a foundation I learned about from a veteran and someone I admire greatly, Combined Arms. This charity not only will be supporting Afghan SIV efforts, but Combined Arms is a one-stop resource for veterans in transition that offers holistic support in a customized and efficient way for active duty, reservists, National guard, veterans from all service eras and their family members. Without them, so many things would not be possible including the freedoms we enjoy as Americans and the ability to travel the world wouldn’t seem so attainable.

In 2020 I lost my grandfather, Michael Muckleroy, and have gone down a rabbit hole reading stories about him since hearing about the fallen soldiers we lost in Afghanistan last week. This little excerpt spoke to me and truly brings light to the sacrifices our military make for us on a daily basis and how petty my everyday worries can be. “During Mike's early days in the Navy, he was awarded the Navy/Marine Corp Medal, the highest non-combat award, for attempting to save a Japanese sailor that was swept away in heavy seas. After graduating from Seal training Mike was assigned to Seal team UDT-11 and sent to Japan during the Korean War. His 2nd commendation came after recovering the bodies of fellow service members whose helicopter crashed into Tokyo Bay. One of his many instances with what he called "Muck's Luck", occurred when his military plane crashed into the Arctic Ocean. In 28-degree water and surrounded by icebergs, Mike and his men escaped from the overturned plane and swam to the nearby rocky beach where they were rescued by the Coast Guard.”

As I reflect on his life and the lives of those lost in Afghanistan, both US soldiers and Afghan allies, it truly blows my mind that I have the opportunity to do something I truly love every day thanks to those who have fought for the opportunity to do so. MFM welcomes any donation to Combined Arms and all donations will 100% go direct to the foundation. I’m so thankful for my clients, friends and family support and donations as a small token of gratitude to our service men and woman and hope you’ll help celebrate my birthday by celebrating those who give us the rights and freedoms to celebrate, travel, and live the lives we dream up.