Thank You

Over the course of my life, I've been lucky enough to do some pretty amazing things. In 2006 and again in 2007 I had the opportunity to visit Walter Reed Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Hospital and Camp LeJeune to visit with wounded soldiers recently returned from the front lines. On this Veterans Day, I wanted to take a moment to write about these experiences and what our soldiers mean to me.

My involvement in the Stewart Manor Fire Department (SMFD) has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Through this work, I not only get to serve the community in which I grew up but I also get to meet and work with some amazing people. One of these men is Bill, an ex-Marine who initiated a great cause to our village. As an ex-Marine, Bill became involved with Wounded Warrior, a project that helps our returning, wounded soldiers adjust back to civilian life. Many of these soldiers are rehabilitating their injuries and need everything from basic items such as toiletries and t-shirts to entertainment items such as books and DVD's for their stays in the hospital. Starting in 2005, Bill and a few members of the SMFD made a trip down to Bethesda Naval Hospital outside D.C. to deliver items for these soldiers. The following year, the trip expanded to include the Wounded Warrior Barracks in Camp LeJeune and Fort Bragg, North Carolina as well as trucks full of goods donated by the people of our communities. With each year that has passed, the project has grown bigger and bigger. This December, the fireman of Nassau County, including 2 dozen departments and cargo trucks filled with goods will be making their trip south to thank our troops in person. These trips will continue until as Bill puts it, "all soldiers have returned from overseas," a true testament of the commitment to this cause.

I made my first trip in 2006 where, along with fellow fireman, I visited with and dropped off goods for soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital. The following year, I made the weekend trip down to Camp LeJeune to visit the Marines. These two trips were both eye-opening and extremely inspirational. On these visits, we meet with soliders in various stages of rehabilitation from injuries suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some were badly burned; some were missing limbs; some were even blind. However, ALL of them were in good spirits. Amazingly enough, they were thanking US for coming to visit THEM. The courage that these young men showed in the battlefield was nearly exceeded by the courage and positive attitude they were now showing during these difficult times in their lives. On our trip to North Carolina, we made a separate stop at the home of Sergeant Eric. Sergeant Eric was injured in Iraq and due to complications from operations, can no longer walk or talk. Additionally, Sgt. Eric was recently married and has a young daughter. Upon hearing of his situtation, his community rallied together to raise enough money to build him and his family a new house that fully meets all of his medical needs. Visiting him in the house that his community built for him helped me to fully understand what makes this country the amazing place that it is.

I was recently watching "Section 60" an HBO Documentary (ironically enough made by someone who grew up in Garden City, just one town over) on the section of Arlington National Cemetary reserved for soliders killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Each headstone they showed revealed a soldier who was 20, 21, 24, 25 years old. I think of the impact that these great young men would have made on the world if they had not died in battle. However, those thoughts are quickly swept away when I realize the impact that these great young men made on the world during their all too short lives. By placing their country before themselves these soldiers show us what true courage is as well as all of the things we should be thankful for.

So here we are on Veterans Day. I want to say thank you to our soldiers and their families. Thank you for your sacrifices. Thank you for fighting for our country and defending our freedoms, in distant lands, far away from your families and loved ones. Most of all, thank you for making the sacrifices and decisions that I know I do not have the courage to make. The sacrifices that allow myself and everyone else to live the lives that we are lucky to have.

Thank you veterans and God Bless America.