Day 153

Friends...family...supporters... It's Friday and you're about to head into the weekend. Fall is just around the corner. School is in session. Leaves may or may not be falling already, depending on where you are. The baseball season is winding down and the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies are cleaning house. On the other coin, college football and the NFL are kicking into gear. In NASCAR, the final race before the Chase is this weekend in Richmond. For my runner friends, there are all kinds of races this weekend and many more coming up in the next few months. 5Ks, 10Ks, marathons, 50Ks, and 100 mile races. I can give you names of my friends who are running every distance this very weekend. Then there is 9/11...the 10 year anniversary of when we were attacked on our homeland. Security is heightened throughout the country and especially in New York City and Washington, D.C., airports are ever watchful, and here in Afghanistan...security remains tight but has clearly been elevated. Rumors swirl about supposed attacks that might happen to "celebrate" this anniversary but no one really has any idea how the weekend will go. In New York City, every name will be read that was lost on that day and similar events will take place in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. Do you remember where you were 10 years ago when you found out? Most do. I had just arrived at work in Colorado Springs, a place where I lived for only one year. I was not in the Navy. In fact, I had just got off of active duty after serving for 10 years. However, the events of that day eventually drew me back in and almost 6 years to the day, I took the Oath of Office again and became a Naval Officer. And so it is...here I am. I knew I would be deployed when I took that oath...eventually. Now...ironically...on the 10 year anniversary of the attack, I am in the country where it all started. Not only that, but I sit on the very base that was Target #1 when we invaded this country. It was held by the enemy and would serve as the best place to land our forces and launch from. Today, that hasn't changed. That strategic move some 10 years ago remains the best strategy.

My plans for this weekend? I will go to work tomorrow. I will do my normal routine and come back to my room tomorrow night. On Sunday, myself and hundreds more will run 9.11K to honor those who lost their lives and the families impacted on that day 10 years ago. Other than that, not much else will be different except the thoughts of what will take place back home as America remembers. Do you remember? Do you remember the yellow ribbons? Do you remember how everyone flew their flag...for awhile? Do you remember how party lines were broken in two and we felt unified as a nation? I do...it was a wonderful feeling. Why did we lose that? Why does the press pay more attention to reality TV, corrupt politics, and the fact that Lady Gaga didn't wear makeup for a magazine cover shoot? Why must something so horrific happen to our country to bring back those feelings and unity we felt back then? It starts with each one of us to live, breathe, and spread patriotism, love of country, and outward proclamation of it all. One flag on a house at a time, one thank you to a soldier in the airport at a time, or one thank you to that aged veteran you walk by in the store who still wears his or her patches or clothes from times gone by but not forgotten.

Today was just another day for me. It was another day closer to home. I was blessed to talk with my 3 beautiful ladies, serve the warfighter, and have 3 meals...and I am safely going to bed now while those warfighters provide the blanket of protection just outside my door so I may do so. I am thankful. I am thankful to be an American and serve my country. I am thankful that many loved ones and friends support me and wait for my return. I am thankful for the health that God has provided me. I am thankful for Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow. They are here with me in every way but literally. 

Remember 9/11...remember how it galvanized us as a country...and remember the 100,000 service-members who sit in the very country where that hatred and terror was bred and brought to our shores. Lastly, remember the families of those left behind while their loved ones serve and the family members who have lost their loved ones forever...who paid the ultimate price. This weekend is much more of a 10 year anniversary. It should be a reminder to us all that freedom is not free, there are many in the world who want to take it from us, and everything is being done to prevent that from happening.

Goodnight, everyone.