You may think you know this man
Standing tall, in ACU’s, a confidence in his eyes
His wife and his children at his side
His future ahead of him, if fate agrees
What you don’t see is his death
The death he faces every time he boards the plane
The releasing of all that he is, or even hopes to be
To get the mission done, to keep us safe
He sacrifices his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
For all those in our country that he holds so dear
His family meets him at the hanger
Wondering what kind of man they will find this time
His very spirit morphed into survival
What you don’t see is his fight
His fight to the death
No one can see the demons he brings home
The demons that thrive in the very sand his boots tread daily
Spirit’s so dark, that no one can even see them, much less understand
Daily, he fights them, to the death
It’s his life or theirs
The man that stands before you is clothed in valor, strength and honor
But what you don’t see is what he has given up
His gift to you is peace
His gift to you is strength
His gift to you is dignity
His gift to you is security
He gives these things selflessly, with no regrets
He charges them to his honor
These gifts weren’t free, they cost him these very things
The man that stands before you, appears to be so normal
That is the face of strength he puts on, while hoping that his heart will follow
But what you don’t see is that he has given up everything
Daily life has become excruciating
The future of promise he once held is gone
Yet, he still holds on to hope
And if asked to do it again…
He would lead the way
Redefining Everything 