CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Many people have asked me why I stayed in the service when many of my friends left the Air Force for more lucrative jobs. When I answer them, I tell them the story of why I joined.
When I was in high school, my family would take vacations to the beach. One day, I watched a boy who was about three years old try to bury his dad in the sand. The boy and his father were having an incredible amount of fun.
At the time, the Cold War was still ongoing and many people across the globe lived under Communist Party rule, but here in America, any family, regardless of wealth, political party affiliation, or connections, could go to the beach and simply play in the sand. This was due to our country's freedoms that so many have helped preserve.
As I thought about what I wanted to do with my life, I realized that this simple freedom was worth protecting. Hence, I joined the Air Force and have stayed in through the ups and downs of service life. Now that I have four children of my own, my observations of that three-year-old boy burying his dad in the sand many years ago are even more poignant today than they were back then.
As time has gone on, I have expanded my thoughts from that day. It is not only about protecting our freedoms, but, as Americans, we must also strive to exercise those freedoms to keep them intact lest they wither and disappear. How can we do this? It doesn't take grand gestures; rather, it takes small actions by an individual to make an impact.
At various assignment locations, servicemen and women can get involved in their communities by exercising the freedom to congregate at a school board meeting, by participating in a home owners association, by practicing their faiths or by voting in a local or national election.
Can we do better? We can, especially in the area of educating our younger warriors about exercising these freedoms. During a presidential election year, there is a huge effort to make sure that every Airman has the opportunity to vote, but what about the other years? What about local elections that are held in a month other than November?
Due to the frequent permanent change of station, the exercise of these freedoms, in some cases, is more difficult for those in the military.
As we go about our busy lives, let's challenge ourselves to mentor our fellow Airmen on how important their contributions are when they exercise those freedoms we cherish and work so hard to protect.