Honor the Soldiers

I have the privilege of working with several soldiers, most of them officers, at my job. I was talking with one who I consider a friend on Friday. She's a 1st Lt in the Air Force, graduated from the Air Force Academy with a degree in aerospace engineering with a focus in space systems, and we were talking about what this weekend meant to her and the other soldiers. She was upset because she had just gotten news that her friend and chemistry lab partner at the Academy had been killed by a IED on Wednesday in Afghanistan and just found out about it that morning. Here are a couple of articles talking about her friend, 1st Lt Roslyn Schulte Denver Post Article , Hometown article.

We talked a little about the sacrifices they have to make in order to do their jobs. I've learned a lot about their lives from talking to them and working with them. At the end of the day, they are just like me. We have a lot of the same interests, quote the same movie lines, listen to the same music, etc. One thing that stands out to me is that they all are dedicated to serving this country. A lot of them I have talked to feel like they could be doing more to help the soldiers overseas and want to go over there to help.

It's crazy to think there are thousand of soldiers - enlisted and officers - who are my age serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the world to keep our country safe and our freedoms intact. It's very humbling. I know sometimes I complain about a lot of things, but when I put it into perspective and consider what our country could be like and how so many families are sacrificing so their fathers, mothers, and children can serve and protect our country - I don't have anything to complain about. I've been blessed with a wonderful, loving, beautiful wife, a baby on the way, a supporting and loving family, and awesome friends who are always there for you when you need them. So, on this Memorial Day, just take a moment to remember those who have served, past and present, and thank them for what we have and what they do.

I'll leave you with this quote that was given to me by my friend.


"It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us the freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the flag."


-Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC