Their War

Today's a pretty significant day! For some reason, I feel like their are others that need to be recognized, not me. Yes I wore the uniform, but there are others that have done much more while wearing it than I. This is their day, and their war.

What is a Vet?

Vets are the unsung heroes. The ones that are recognized do not want to be, and the ones that aren't would never want to be. Many say they are the lucky ones, most Vets will say the lucky ones are the ones that did not come home to carry the weight. They may be the mechanic. the waitress, the person working at the DMV or unemployed, but they all having something in common. They have seen things or done things that 99.99% of the world will never see or have to do. And then, there is the work that we do everyday. The grease monkeys in Motor T, the air jockeys, your diver's, PJ's, Doc's, Bubble heads, Surface warfare warriors and such. We nickname them, ground pounders, bullet sponges and cannon fodder to make it easier to do our jobs. Can you imagine volunteering yourself for a job that can and will potentially cost you your life??????? A vet can and has......not will....but has!!!!!!

A Vet is the member in the swamp during JWT ( Jungle Warfare Training) that tells themselves the heat, water and mosquitoes are worth it if it allows them save a life in Colombia. Who during CWT ( Cold Weather Training) tells themselves that frostbite on two fingers and an ear is worth it if it can save a life in The Albanian Alps specifically Djaravica while moving to Kosovo. The one who during SERE school ( Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape) tolerates sleep deprivation, starvation, hypothermia and stress not otherwise known accept in combat and tells themselves, I can do this, not for me but for my brothers and sisters standing along side me.

They are extraordinary and yet ordinary. They are usually quiet and may from time to time wear a small ribbon, medal or patch displaying what we call our colors. But in a true sense, we Vets look at all of you that have not or yet to serve and realize that you are our colors. You are our legacy and for that, this Vet will continue to put his life on the line to defend and protect those colors.

WE have lived our lives by the following codes

" Semper Fidelis" Always Faithful
"Semper Paratus" Always Ready
" Semper Vigilans" Always on Watch
" Semper Gratus" Always Grateful

And will continue to live our lives by the codes in uniform or not.

For that we give our Vets a day, 24 hours of our time to be dedicated to them. I would love for more people to give more, do more and say more. I challenge all of you to find a Vet today, say thank you and think for one minute what his or her story could be and what he or she has sacrificed for each of us.