Barksdale AFB, La. -- This is an article written by Miss Emily Hoffman, the 13-year-old niece of Senior Master Sgt. Darren Ellingwood, intelligence superintendent, 917th Operations Group.
When Is the Right Time to Honor A Military Hero?
By Miss Emily Hoffman
When is the appropriate time to offer gratitude to the men and women who serve in the military and honor them as heroes? Is there a wrong time? Every American should look for the opportunity to do this whenever possible.
As a country, we reserve special holidays to officially recognize our military and veterans, but expressing our thoughts and honoring them should be a part of our everyday lives.
Our military is the force that not only helped shaped our young nation, but continues to ensure our freedom year to year. It's the symbol of bravery in our society. The soldiers of the military serve proudly and willingly, laying down their lives to fight for our freedom. Our soldiers are not nameless, faceless, persons; they are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, co-workers and neighbors, who have stepped forward to offer an extraordinary sacrifice.
These people deserve our conscious efforts to not only be aware of their service, but to commit to expressing gratitude and showing them honor whenever the opportunity presents. If you see a person in uniform at the grocery store or the bank, take a minute to look them in the eye, shake their hand, and say "thank you." If you know a veteran, send them a card or give them a call for no other reason than to let them know that you are truly grateful of their services.
I am the niece, daughter, and granddaughter of war veterans, and I know what it's like firsthand to have a family member who is away at war. There are many families out there who have lost loved ones. Even if you don't know a veteran, honoring soldiers is also honoring their families.
My uncle, who serves in the Air Force, once told me, "It's the belief and support of my loved ones that keeps me going. If I was called to the line of duty again, there is nothing anyone could do to keep me from defending my country."
These men and women who risk their lives all have one common goal: protecting our country. Every time they risk their lives, they have us in their minds and in their hearts. We should be thinking of them just as much. Most of us don't realize what they go through every day to secure our freedom and way of life. If we didn't have our soldiers, we wouldn't be the country we are today.
As Elmer Davis once said, "This nation will be the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."
The right time to honor our military heroes is today, tomorrow, and every day. We need to stop and think about what they've given to our country. Our military is what holds our country upright, and keeps it free. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave - and proud of it.