At a time when there is so much unrest throughout the world, particularly in the fiery hot spot of the Mid-East, where our troops are risking their lives as United States service men and women, the easy thing to do is thank God for our soldiers and then get back to life. But for some people easy isn’t a way of life. For some people, they can’t just sit back and let other people do the dirty work. For some people, values and patriotism override “easy.” This year, locally, there are at least five graduating seniors who have chosen to enlist in the armed services right out of high school. Not even legal drinking age yet, these kids-turned-adults have made the conscious decision to enter into a contract with the United States to serve and defend their country. As noble and selfless an act as this is, for some reason they get little recognition. No public announcement of scholarships received on graduation day showing off their educational success and achievements. No special commendation. No really cool title like “salutatorian” or “valedictorian.” They don’t even get counted in the school district’s statistics for “going on to college,” even if they will be attending college during their service. But they don’t seem to mind. The kids who enlist aren’t doing it for the accolades. They do it because they are driven. They do it in the name of love – love for their country, for being an American, for the good of mankind. These 17 and 18-year-old recent graduates have taken on adult responsibilities to defend and protect not just their village, county, state or country, but the whole world. People they have never met before. People whose names they will never know. People who could very well hate them for being American, let alone being U.S. military. What will they get in return? That remains to be seen. Where serving our country was once an honorable act that was supported by the majority, today fighting for freedom and justice is tainted by the realization that sometimes the war waged is not always about freedom and justice and the good of mankind. There is a war going on here on American soil, where the two sides are in constant battle over whether troops should be on foreign soil fighting other countries’ wars, or whether they are pawns in one big political game of Risk or chess. The bottom line is this. It doesn’t matter when it comes to our troops. When it comes down to those people dedicating their lives to protecting and defending not just the United States, but mankind, they should be revered, applauded with standing ovations, and honored above and beyond what is being done for them now. For those of you heading off to boot camp soon: Uno Ab Alto (One above all, U.S. Air Force). Non sibi sed patriae (Not for self, but for country, U.S. Navy). Semper Fidelis (Always faithful, U.S. Marines). This We’ll Defend (U.S. Army). Thank you. And may the grace of our Creator bless you and keep you.
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