Thank You

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Joseph Swafford

The sight of a fallen hero's flag-draped casket returning to American soil. The sound of a grieving loved one's anguish. The indelible memory of meeting a young man or woman who lost one or more limbs on the battlefield.

Since February 2011, when my first newspaper column was released, these devastating moments have echoed through every facet of my life. The last three and a half years have been difficult and emotional, but what I've endured is nothing compared to what a U.S. service member, veteran or military family sacrifices on a daily basis.

The Americans I've met and spoken to while writing this weekly column are some of the most extraordinary people on the planet. They are brave, selfless, and strong. They are husbands, wives, dads, moms, brothers and sisters. They are, without a doubt, the best our nation can offer to a troubled world that is in dire need of America's leadership and compassion.

Even though I had worked at CNN and blogged about the military before launching this column, I came into this effort with little understanding of the Armed Forces. I knew our troops were courageous, but didn't realize just how much is required of service members and their families. I knew that families of the fallen suffered, but failed to grasp that for them, the war will never end.

I knew that many combat veterans came home from war with harrowing memories, but didn't have a handle on what witnessing the evil of America's enemies could do to a young man or woman. I knew that suicide in the military was a problem, but couldn't have possibly understood its gravity before speaking to family members suffering from the permanent grief and confusion of a loved one taking their own life.

In short, I knew almost nothing about military life. I started writing the column because I thought that millions of Americans probably felt the same way: They respected our Armed Forces, but didn't fully comprehend the depth of the military community's sacrifice.

Image courtesy: Cpl. Reece Lodder

Less than 1 percent of Americans serve in uniform. While many of my relatives served in previous wars, I only knew one person who had deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan before I started interviewing troops and veterans. My guess is that many people reading this column have a similar connection, or lack thereof, to the America's post-9/11 conflicts.

It is absolutely critical that every single one of us makes a concerted effort to learn more about the men and women who protect us. We can't help solve the many challenges that our heroes face if we have no understanding of their sacrifices.

Whether it's been a story about a fallen hero, veteran or service member, I hope this column has given you a better appreciation of this new Greatest Generation, as some now rightfully refer to our nation's volunteer warriors. For me, the way I look at our military will never be the same. Our men and women in uniform are even more heroic than I thought they were.

My daughter is 3 years old. Someday, I will ask her to read the stories of the men and women who stepped forward to defend our nation after it was attacked. Rather than trying to follow in the footsteps of so-called celebrities, I hope she will grow up wanting to be like our nation's real stars: those who are willing to fight for freedom.

A new career opportunity is forcing me to end this column. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to Creators Syndicate and my editor, Simone Slykhous, for your graciousness and guidance. Thank you to each newspaper for running these weekly stories, and to you for reading them.

Most of all, thank you to the troops, veterans and military families who trusted me to help tell your incredible stories. I am in awe of your kindness, integrity, and valor.

I conclude this journey with a quote from "Brothers Forever," which I co-authored with the father of a fallen Marine. The short passage was written to describe thousands of headstones at Arlington National Cemetery, where so many American heroes rest.

"There is no inscription to define the meaning of their sacrifice. That mission is ours."

COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: Matthew Sileo Photography

Stepping Forward

Sometimes, a photo says more than the written word. Thank you to Lt. Benjamin Addison for taking this picture on Sept. 11, 2012, at a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan. While mourning the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we salute our troops, veterans, and their families for spending every day of the past eleven years defending our freedom.

We will not tire

Images courtesy: Sgt. Randall Clinton

Many of us, including me, are exhausted from the raw emotion of Sunday night's momentous events. Yet imagine if you were sitting on a remote Forward Operating Base in the desolate wilderness of Afghanistan. For our troops in harm's way, who are coming off one of the deadliest months of the entire war in Afghanistan and an increased month of violence in Iraq, there is no champagne. There is only constant danger, camaraderie, and focus.

Mostly, though, our heroes in faraway lands simply miss their families and friends. They wish they could share this moment with them without having to make a phone call, send an e-mail, or contact them over Facebook or Skype. Yet our brave warriors need to know that they are still here with us at this hour. No patriotic American would dare forget all the sacrifices that were made, and will continue to be made, to make the elimination of the world's most wanted terrorists a reality.

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are not over. As Americans, it is our duty to ensure that a reawakened public does not forget the nearly 200,000 U.S. troops still facing serious danger overseas. In the perilous days to come, we must also lend a hand to military families at home, as well as our troops and veterans who have returned from battle.

Just 24 hours before a group of heroic special operations warriors brought the mastermind of 9/11 and countless other terrorist attacks to justice, Americans were being inundated with non-stop media coverage about a royal wedding in London. We cannot afford to return to that mindset, especially as the fear of reprisal attacks grip the spouses, children, and relatives of U.S. service members still deployed overseas.

In the days to come, you can depend on The Unknown Soldiers to bring you the personal stories of brave volunteer warriors who never quit. As I said in Sunday night's post, they've lived every day of the past nine and a half years like its September 12, 2001. Our challenge as a nation, which is finally displaying the same sense of unity we all took part in after we were attacked, will be to live every day of the next decade like it's May 2, 2011.

'As Americans, we don't quit'

Image courtesy: Department of Defense

Thousands of servicemembers at Pensacola Naval Air Station hosted a special visitor on Tuesday: the commander-in-chief. While President Obama's visit to Florida was primarily centered around the disastrous oil spill affecting Gulf states, he also delivered important remarks about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. While this site has always placed troops above politics, a rallying cry from the commander-in-chief is not a political event and should never be viewed through a partisan lens. It is essential for volunteer warriors to know that their leader stands with them, regardless of the president's political party.

While congratulating the military on its success in Iraq and pledging to defeat terrorism in Afghanistan, the president also extended his condolences for the loss of four Pensacola-based fallen heroes in a recent training crash in north Georgia. Retired Lt. Cmdr. Charles McDaniel, Capt. Jason Paynter, 1st Lt. Shawn Nice, and Ens. Zachary Eckhart were killed in the April 12 accident. President Obama also sent his prayers to the families of five servicemembers from California's Camp Pendleton, who were killed last week in Afghanistan.

Like many speeches given by President Bush to the military since the 9/11 attacks, it is inspiring to hear an enthusiastic crowd of America's best and brightest cheering during an address by President Obama. While nothing is certain in the world of politics, men and women like the proud personnel stationed at NAS Pensacola ensure that America remains the greatest nation on earth.

Day of gratitude dawns

Thanks to thousands of volunteers, American flags are proudly flying in front of every tombstone in our National Cemeteries at the dawn of this special day. Every fallen servicemember buried in these hallowed grounds earned the honor of the American flag by doing everything in their power to protect it.

Memorial Day 2010 is upon us. Millions are solemnly saluting the men and women who have laid down their lives for freedom since the birth of our great nation. With valiant troops dying almost daily in America's ongoing war against terrorism, the meaning of this day should particularly penetrate the heart of a generation that was called to fight when America was attacked on September 11, 2001.

Sunday night, I watched the live HD telecast of the 2010 National Memorial Day Concert in Washington. While the event was both moving and inspirational, it was particularly refreshing to see so much unity on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, which has been plagued by so much political polarization over the past year. On this evening, prominent republicans, democrats, and independents came together to show that our troops are far more important than partisan bickering. After all, they sacrifice overseas to give us our freedom to disagree at home.

Less than 24 hours after actors Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna hosted the event, the military supporting stars are coming together again for Monday's 2010 National Memorial Day Parade. The festivities start just before 2:00 p.m. eastern time on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets NW in the nation's capital. The American Veterans Center, which founded and organized this special parade beginning in 2005, should be saluted for recognizing the need for this large tribute for our fallen heroes, particularly during wartime. You can watch the parade live on The Military Channel on cable and satellite, and servicemembers around the world can tune in on The Pentagon Channel.

When I wake up in the morning, I will pause to look at a small flag given to me at the procession to honor fallen 1st Lt. Robert Collins on April 15, 2010, in Tyrone, Georgia. As I carry it with me to a local Memorial Day ceremony in the afternoon, I hope I have the opportunity to tell a child about a young man who selflessly swore to protect everything the American flag represents. For 1st Lt. Collins and his brothers in arms, I bow my head with eternal appreciation. To truly understand what they died for, their stories must be told.