"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
Every year, fresh-faced men and women take the military oath, swearing to defend our country in any way deemed necessary. Knowing their life will never be the same and knowing they may one day lose a friend or their own life, they bravely take the oath.
Today is Veterans Day. It's the one day a year where the majority of us say, "Thank You" to the strangers who have saved our lives, even though they may never be a part of our daily lives.
No matter how many years someone has served, no matter how many times someone has deployed, no matter what the work he/she does on a daily basis, to me, that person is a hero. From the Navy cook to the Air Force flight engineer to the Marine Corps machine gunner to the Army combat medic - they're all brave heroes.
It's the personal stories of our military men and women that can touch our hearts the most. In their honor, I'd like to highlight some of these generous and courageous men and women...
Master Sgt. Minne Hiller-Cousins - Minnie is a Family Assistance Coordinator in the Army National Guard. When soldiers deploy, her job is to take care of those soldiers families back home. She does everything from providing counseling to throwing baby showers. She volunteered to go to Iraq to simply tell her fellow soldiers their families were in good hands.
Cavalry Scout Phil Bauer - As his chopper was leaving Iraq to take him home for a few days of leave, it was attacked and he found himself buried amongst sixteen of his deceased comrades. After being in a coma, losing a leg, reliving the scars of his near-death experience, he had a total mental breakdown. After years of suffering from PTSD, he found his passion for life and was able to heal by giving back to other soldiers through the Wounded Warrior Project, East Coast Assistance Dogs, and the Mission Continues.
Pfc. Henry Svehla - A fallen soldier from the Korean War whose remains were never found, was given the Medal of Honor 59 years after he courageously threw himself on top of a grenade to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.
Iraq War Veteran, Bryan Anderson - Despite losing both his legs and one arm, Bryan is a true example of perseverance. He made a documentary highlighting organizations in Chicago that exemplify volunteerism, and continuously encourages other to help their communities.
Our veterans were not born with super powers. They were not born with a head start on the road to success. They were born as regular boys and girls who grew up and decided to take the ultimate risk and be a hero. And for that, I say, "Thank you."
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