AFSA Warriors!

Hooah!...A few weeks ago I, my wife Karen and two great Chiefs’ had the distinct pleasure; well honor--of being invited guest speakers at an elderly care home in North Omaha, Nebraska.  It was Veterans Day and our mission was a simple one; come out and speak to the residents, many of which were veterans, about our military experiences and share some current insight with them.  Part of our goal was to vector the messages towards their lifelong achievements and specifically, thank them for their selfless service to our great nation.

Granted, I did have a “canned speech” prepared and hidden away in my coat pocket as did my fellow Chief mentors.  However, as we stood proudly in our Air Force blue uniforms, brilliant white chevrons and chests full of medals and decorations we quickly were humbled by the increasing presence of military history before us.  It was at that moment that we realized that this day was not about us—the invited guests, it was for them…the men and women who paved the way of freedom so we could be standing there with them.

Slowly by walker, motorized cart and painstaking short steps, these military heroes of yesteryear filled the room.  Each military veteran was adorned with a red, white and blue ribbon on their shirt.  Some wore VFW hats, some old Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine memorabilia—However, each one wore a sense of pride—a sense of brother and sisterhood—a sense of fellowship and teamwork, which humbled us to no end.

Before we started our respective speeches, a former US Army artilleryman who served on the German/Russian boarder many years ago volunteered to stand and hold the American flag while another retired Chief Master Sergeant, cringing with pain, slowly rose to his feet from his wheelchair and in a broken and crackled voice, recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  As my active duty cadre looked on, we saw each person rise from the comfort of their seats, wheelchairs and carts to pay respect to the greatest symbol our country knows—our flag of red, white and blue.

Following this noble and courageous feat which had just observed, it was now our turn to give our respective messages.  The messages we had prepared now seemed irrelevant and each one of us decided to forgo the prepared speeches and instead, speak from the heart.  The courage we had just observed in these seasoned warriors was overwhelming and thus any pre-prepared words would be mute.  Thus with our eyes welling with humility, pride and tears…we delivered our thanks to these true American warriors.  Afterward, we spent nearly two hours sharing stories, hugs and fellowship with these amazing patriots.  More importantly, we thanked them for their cumulative decades of combined service, loyalty and commitment to our principles of freedom and justice.

TEAM, I encourage each one of you to become involved with a Veteran’s home, care facility or simply engage with a family member, friend or neighbor who once stood on the frontlines of freedom—a veteran!  Make time to talk with them and not too them and get involved with AFSA legislation on issues related to their specific needs.  After all, one day we will be the people sitting in that audience.  We must NEVER forget the sacrifices they gave for us!  HOOAH!

SMSgt Matthew R. "Mad Dog" Becker

AFSA Chapter 984