Taryn Cooper, daughter of Air National Guardsman
This cartouche was gifted to me by my father while he was deployed for one of his longest tours in Kuwait between 2015-2016. The hieroglyphic symbols spell out my name, T-A-R-Y-N and the English letters are also printed on the other side. This is a significant piece to me because it became a comfort while he was away and made me feel peace that he was safe and would return soon. I am privileged to say that because of his years of service, I could use his G.I. Bill benefits to pay for majority of my undergraduate degree. During my senior year, there was a looming fear that he might not have been home in time to witness my accomplishment as the first person in my family to go to and graduate from college. Thankfully, he was able to come home just a few short days before graduation. I’m not typically a superstitious person, but I can’t help but think there is a little luck ingrained in this necklace. You can find me wearing this necklace every day to be reminded of this sense of security and thankfulness of my father’s sacrifices, regardless of if the gold doesn’t match my outfit or the rest of the jewelry I’m wearing.
-Taryn Cooper, daughter of Joseph Cooper, retired E6 Technical Sargeant, 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard