by Sharon Sebastian posted on Monday, May 31, 2010

As Memorial Day signifies and celebrates our valiant warriors of today and yesterday, the news reports of the loss of American lives in the Afghanistan war has reached a marker of 1000. One life lost or the countless more in this and former wars, America's pain is mixed with honoring America's finest who are at the forefront of every battle whether against terrorism or any enemy of the United States. It is the citizens duty to support these men and women, even if for just a brief encounter to shake a hand and offer our deeply felt gratitude. Again, allow me to share a passing encounter with a young Marine who was  faceless in an airport crowd, but now remains imbedded in both mind and heart.

Recently, during a long layover at an airport, dozens of Marines flowed through the crowds. One settled into a seat directly across from me. We struck up a conversation. Strong and sturdy, with an even gaze, this Marine told me how he became a man. The product of the grand mixture that is the proud heritage of America's melting pot, he was an all-American of our finest caliber sitting before me. He spoke of how his teen years were filled with truancy and drugs and being kicked out of the house by a strong and loving Mom and what he called an "old school" Dad whose discipline he now understands. Facing nothing but dead ends for months, he soon turned eighteen. After three days with no food, he had had enough. He sought out a Marine recruitment office, signed the dotted line and shipped out shortly thereafter.  Like a snake shedding its useless skin, his old life was soon to be left behind. 

He disclosed that what happened next still astonishes him, as he sat before me sharing his thoughts. Within four months after enlisting, he said, "I became a man." Both wonder and frankness filled his voice at how the Corps transformed his life, his purpose, his duty and his manhood. Four months, he said - still in disbelief at how quickly his attitude and life had changed for the better. I was honored to hear his story. Sitting there, he embodied our valiant sons and daughters, cousins, grandchildren and brothers and sisters. As he sat there with his orders for deployment, I promised him that we would do our job to help provide the support necessary for our valiant military and to sustain America and the Constitution as we know it so that they will have something to come home to. He nodded and said he'd appreciate that. He then said, "You know, when I made my first visit home, Dad came up to me, shook my hand and told me he loved me. He had never done that before." He spoke of friends who are his age of 21 and still prowling the streets and living the life he left behind. Today, he reaches out to them while on leave to improve their lives. He offers them gas money to drive to interviews for a job or to an enlistment office. Some comment that he thinks he is better that they are and he answers them -"Yes, I am." I nodded in agreement, "Yes, you are." You were once them," I tell him. "Now they can step-up and be a man like you."

As has always been the case, it is young men and women, such as these,  that take on the duty, burden and honor to defend our freedoms and way of life. It is American blood that flows through their veins and it is the loss of American blood and their lives that we honor. It is those like him, in all branches of our military, who stand between us and the enemy that seeks America's destruction. They deserve and must have the best support of America's citizens and its government.

In a Congress that has seemingly lost it way and uses the funding of our military as a political tool or for political gain, shame should be on their heads. If the American voter does not clean house of those in government who treat the U.S. military as a political tool, then the shame lies with us as well.  Recall the valiant young Marine in the airport. We speak of expending our nation's blood and treasure in war, but let all of us never forget that in regard to all who serve -  their blood is our treasure.

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