The Heroes journey continues. Now that Veterans Day is over and the rest of us get back to work, the demons for most of these Vets don’t go away.
I met a young man, with a young bride and a young son in tow, who talked about his dog Gunner, who prevented him from killing himself. I met a brave soldier paralyzed from the neck down, on a ventilator, gasping for every breath. He sacrificed his normal life, so we could have our freedom. I heard a young man speak about the recent death of his Marine father. There was not a dry eye in the room. I wanted to hug him. And comfort him.
The every day journey of these brave men and women continues, long after the holiday ends. They must battle their daily demons while we indulge ourselves in our material, and self indulged lives.
We must celebrate these warriors every day. Not just that one day a year where we get a reprieve from the tasks of our daily lives. I was moved by their stories, and by their harsh realities. Somehow their stories and their faces don’t seem to leave me. All I can do is thank them from the bottom of my heart. And do more good for those in my world.
About Hemant Rustogi