My family and I attended a ceremony on Veterans day remembering all veterans past, present and future. The keynote speaker was an active duty Navy Captain. (Just for info, a Navy Captain is the equivalent of a Colonel in the other services).
The theme of his speech revolved around the willingness of the veterans of our armed services to go into places that most would not to defend our interests and freedoms around the globe.
Not only are they willing, but they stand up and say “Send me!”. They want to do whatever they can, even give their lives to protect our nation, way of life, and ultimately, their families.
His speech was very powerful and I looked over to see my wife with tears streaming down her face as she watched him, hanging on every word the Captain spoke.
As we drove home afterward I asked her what she thought about the presentation. She told me “All I could think of is you and how since 9/11 you have been beating on your chest, calling and writing whoever you could and saying to them “Send me!”.”
I gave this some thought. She was correct. The day after September 11th 2001, I went to the Army recruiters office and told them I was packed and ready to go. I wrote the President an email, and sent one to the Retiree Mobilization Branch as well. The Army to date has decided that they have enough soldiers to do the job, I suppose. But that does not stop me from wanting to go back to active duty and do whatever I can to support the current efforts of our military.
I tell people this and I get this look like ” Are you crazy?!”. I am told that I have done my time and then some. I should just sit this one out and let others handle it. This attitude exemplifies the lack of understanding of most people about those who serve in our armed forces.
For the most part we serve and continue to serve because we believe in this country, our government, our constitution, and all that these things stand for. There are some who come into the military for education benefits, job training, or other reasons, without considering that they might have to actually serve in combat. They show what they are made of when the call to action comes. Some whine and snivel. Some desert and run to a foreign country and from there, they hold news conferences and say they left because they felt we are involved in an immoral war. Just once I would love to hear one of those people be honest and say “I ran because I’m a coward and although I love all the benefits of being a citizen of this country I am not willing to risk my life to preserve them for myself or anyone else”.
Then there is a category of individual who serves in the armed forces because the call to duty is so strong that it defies description. Even after years of service and subsequent retirement, we continue to practice our military skills long after our release from active service. We continue to address ourselves by rank, because when a military person retires, they retain their rank and title. ” I tell everyone that MISTER White is my Daddy!”. We stand ready to be recalled to active duty whenever our country may need us. We continue to serve.
I may be retired and drive a truck for a living, but in the final analysis, a soldier is not what I do, it is who I am.