Jul 4, 2010
Note: Growing up in the military (and having a brother and other family members deployed and currently serving) i am a strong supporter of our soldiers and empathetic with their families as well as understand our need as a nation to support them whenever and however we can! This was contributed by James Schenck, an Army veteran and the president of the PenFed Foundation, a military support organization.
This Fourth of July, can you to join me in saluting the sacrifices of all veterans who served to defend our nation and remembering their contributions. While the nation reflects on sacrifices of veterans this Independence Day who did not return back from war, I also would like to salute members of the military who sacrificed in other ways. From the Marine whose family is struggling financially due to multiple deployments, to the sailor who couldn’t buy her first house because she was overseas, to the soldier who is now relearning how to walk with his wife by his side and needs daycare for his young children: members of our military make sacrifices everyday that go unseen.
Independence Day is a day to reflect on what it means to be an American and the liberties and freedoms we all enjoy as a result of the sacrifices and hardships endured by our men and women in uniform. It is a day for every American to look around and say thank you to those currently serving and those who have served. We must also recognize our national security is a team effort and our military is on the front lines, but we must not forget the selfless servants within our intelligence communities, our defense contractors and the millions of Americans who go to work each day who are supporting the successes of our operations around the world. This Fourth of July make a commitment to supporting our nation’s defenders and their families in any way you can. When members of our military return home to financial and medical problems, they end up losing their own freedom. Our veterans should not have to sacrifice their independence in order to guarantee ours.
I appreciate the good words… It’s our honor to serve…
But now, at 60% disabled, a veteran of TWO services (USMC 1984-1997 and US ARMY (WA National Guard – OIF 2008-2009)), I’m wondering if there’s anyone out there who would cut me a deal on a chopper so that I can’t get out on the road and out run some of the demons that seem to be cropping up lately. I see Rolling Thunder, the Patriot Guard, and the different Vets Bike Clubs roar by, and I want to join up so bad I can taste it… But the economy tanked while I was gone, and the money I’ve got keeps the mortgage paid and the lights on, so the only way I’m going to get a bike is with a little help…