Happy Veteran's Day!

I just realized it's been 21 years since I last wore a United States Air Force uniform. Where did the time go? I served our country from 1983 to 1987. It was my privilege to serve our fine nation. It was an honor to serve with many hard-working, loyal and committed people. When I went into the Air Force, it was mostly out of respect for my mother, who had worked so hard for so many years to take care of my little sister and I. After a devastating soccer injury ended my freshman year, I wasn't all that interested in school and dropped out of college after that first year. I knew that I had to do something with my life and I figured that the Air Force was a way to do just that. I didn't know exactly what I wanted at the time, but I knew what I needed -- to grow up and become a man. I didn't want to be a burden and from my perspective, the best thing to do was to join the military. I could fulfill a civic duty and get myself on solid ground all in one decision. The fact that two of my best friends, Mark Borum and Joe Delach, had joined the service before me played a pivotal role in my signing my life away to Uncle Sam. It proved to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was able to serve, learn, grow, travel and even play for the Air Force Soccer Team. I made some great friends in Italy and found a lifelong friend in one Richard Couch, who is now back home in Hawaii raising a beautiful family and living a very honorable life. We never served in trenches together, but the memories of service together in a foreign land served as a glue to our friendship that will never be broken.

I haven't given much thought to my military service days recently, only to thank God that I wasn't subjected to the irrational and exploitative leadership of "W" and the people pulling and tugging at his puppet strings. I had a hard enough time picking up cigarette butts when I wasn't a smoker. I can't imagine dealing with the specter of having to kill someone over oil profiteering, political power brokering and arms budget replenishment programs. Yes, there are terrorists out there that have to be dealt with, but let's face it, A LOT of people on both sides have lost their lives over WMD's that never existed and we found ourselves being hated by people that used to love us.

A few great things happened this election day, November 4th. The country's first Black president was elected, and my nephew Taj went into the Air Force. I hope he had a chance to vote before being shipped off to San Antonio. I found myself thanking God for several things that day. Barack Obama's victory being one. The chance to tell my daughter Sierra that she could really, really be anything she put her mind to being another. Knowing that Taj will soon be serving a president (Obama) that will try to keep him out of harm's way was a third.

I know Taj was inspired by the opportunity to become a man, just like I was. I hope he gets as much out of his service as I did. And I pray for his sake that the near-future leadership of our country acts in a much more responsible way towards our veterans and current service members than the leadership of the past eight years. To Taj, and all of our young people who are giving our country their finest years, I salute you and I pray for your safe return. To all of my brothers and sisters who have served our country, I salute you and I stand proud with you. To anyone who has a loved one currently serving, I salute you and I pray for your family to be made whole with Godspeed.

Happy Veteran's Day.