Commentary: Recognizing pride in the past, pride in the present

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. George Truman
  • Chief, 71st Flying Training Wing Plans
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  In the coming weeks, we, as part of the Vance military family, should take time to watch the Veterans Day parades and tributes.

As we watch the parades and see the veterans march past, we are certain to see the embodiment of our Air Force core value, Service before Self.

The soldiers' bearing will reflect the pride of past generations who have defended our nation, and ultimately our core values.

Although those veterans may only wear their uniforms once or twice a year, they are very proud to do so...as proud now, if not more, as they were on active duty.

In the past, they may not have always been respected for wearing their uniforms in comparison to the admiration they now receive. These local and national celebrations in honor of veterans will show example after example of how servicemen and servicewomen sacrificed in order to protect the freedoms of the United States.

U.S. Army Gen. George S. Patton Jr., once said that military personnel "...are always on parade."

Those of us here at Vance wearing Air Force blue may not know our U.S. Navy brothers and sisters live "courage" as their second core value -- courage to have the moral strength to do what is right even under personal or professional pressure to act otherwise. Both are easier said than done.

It is sometimes difficult to remember military members serve 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on the base, in town shopping or at the ball field. Both in and out of uniform, we represent the best of our country's all-volunteer force to those who see us or know we are serving.

The uniform and our willingness to serve are indicators of our character, a brand of heroism and a way of life. We are the few, who protect the many, ensuring freedom endures despite the hardships required to protect our country.

We represent the millions of uniformed personnel who have served this young country over the past two centuries.

President John F. Kennedy once praised service to our country as "the greatest contribution that any man can make."

Servicemen and servicewomen are far from the only people who make sacrifices in service to our nation. Often that service is performed by our family members, and the sacrifices come from living vast distances from families and friends and frequent moves that test the strength of old and new friendships made along the way.

Those family members and friends provide vital support during the "normal" stresses throughout a career...deployments being the most publicized example.

Military members accept adversity where others may shy away, and our families and friends provide the critical support needed during times of instability. Those families and friends will also gather on Veterans Day, honoring all who serve, yet should know some part of this day includes them as well.

Service members around the globe face the reality that they must accept adversity and perform at levels uncommon to the rest of our countrymen so that all democracy may flourish. There are times when tests of character and courage will challenge even the strongest among us.

Service before self is a decision we all made and is therefore a mindset we live by. If faced with the opportunity to "save" our profession from disrespects, I hope we have the courage to do so.

There are generations of veterans that deserve our respect, and you will surely see it in their eyes as they march past with pride this Veterans Day.