Sacrifice

In the 2+ years that I've been out in the Real World and working at WNCT, I've learned a lot. Ask any number of my friends and family, and they'll tell you I "occasionally" act as if I know it all. Well, (gasp) I don't know it all -- but I certainly am learning new stuff every day.

One thing I don't think I ever grasped until I moved out on my own was what 'sacrifice' meant. I mean, I know the Webster's definition and everything, but it's not something that was all that real to me. When I graduated and left Heaven-On-Earth (Chapel Hill, for the uninitiated readers out there), I thought leaving my best friends and the greatest place God ever created was as serious as sacrifice ever got. And for a 22-year-old kid, that was pretty big.

But it's nothing compared to what I've learned the last couple years. I've gotten a sense (although not a true taste) of how much my parents sacrificed for me to be happy and for me to be successful. I've gained a much greater and more real appreciation of the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for all of us (something I try to remind myself of every day).

But one sacrifice I can't help but face every day is the sacrifice that the men and women of our military have made. Because of where I live, there are at least two Coast Guard (the most overlooked and under-appreciated branch of the military) bases, one Marine Corps outlying landing field and four other Marine Corps installations (Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune, Camp Johnson and New River) within spitting distance of my house. There are countless Marine Corps bombing ranges nearby -- and probably other bases that belong to the Marines/other branches that I don't even know about, too.

I am literally surrounded by tens of thousands of military service men and women each and every day. And I am so thankful for them.

I've even become good friends with a few of them, and that's a real privilege.

In light of yesterday being Veterans Day, though, it got me thinking about all the sacrifices they make.

I've covered a number of deployments and homecomings for WNCT. The joy when a family is reunited after a long deployment is palpable when you're covering a homecoming. The fear, anxiety, sadness and the sacrifice are far more powerful when you're covering a deployment.

I mean, our troops are leaving their spouses, their kids, their friends and families to go fight (and too often) die for the rest of us. (And I thought leaving college was hard.) Meanwhile, countless "Americans" sit and second-guess the reasons our troops are overseas and do nothing to support them and their families while they're gone.

Look, I hate politics (although I love covering politics ... weird). But there is nothing political about supporting the people fighting for our country (and yes, they are very cognizant of the fact that they are fighting for you to have the right to protest against them fighting wars...). And I don't want to hear anyone say that 'the best way to support them is to bring them home.' It would be great to have them home, for sure. But the best way to support them is TO SUPPORT THEM no matter what they're doing and where they are.

When it comes to this issue, I don't care about your politics. I don't care about your beliefs. I don't care about your excuses. All I care about is that we all show our veterans -- past and present -- that we are grateful for everything they do and everything they've done.

Do it by simply saying 'thanks.' Do it by listening to older veterans tell stories about their service. Do it by holding a door or shaking their hands or giving them a pat on the back. They appreciate it, because they aren't compensated for their sacrifice nearly enough.

Support our troops by supporting their families while they're deployed. God knows their families make sacrifices and their spouses and kids need as much love and support as anyone.

And support our troops by encouraging our lawmakers to improve the equipment and technology that keep our troops safe -- and just as importantly, the healthcare and treatment (both physical and mental) they get when they return home and for the rest of their lives.

Until you see the sacrifices our military members make, you may never gain a true appreciation for them. I know I didn't have a clue until I saw it for myself. But give them your full support, nonetheless.

Sorry for getting on the soapbox, but when you see sacrifice like that daily, it's easy to get fired up. (And by the way, thanks to mom and dad for their sacrifices, too.)

Thoughts?