A very interesting thought was brought to my attention last night as I read the rules for a free wedding that is to be given to the most deserving military couple.
An interesting criteria was the requirement to have served in the Middle East. At first I thought nothing of it as that is probably the most frequently asked question when someone finds out you’re in the military. I feel as though in many people’s minds, this is the determining factor in them deciding if they should be grateful to you or not. As though if one hasn’t been over there one hasn’t yet served. This would make perfect sense to me if the choice of going over there was entirely up to the individual, but as I’m sure is common knowledge, joining the military is signing over your life and your rights to the government. Thus the only decision of sacrifice that faces the majority of military personnel is signing on all the lines.
Which raises my question, is it less of a sacrifice to serve your country but not spend time in the Middle East? Is the cook on the carrier in the Pacific doing less to serve his country than the cook in the Persian Gulf? Is the admin Lance Corporal in Quantico not giving as much as his counterpart in Iraq? What about those that are sent to Korea? Are they not serving? Did they not sacrifice as much?
What about the one who didn’t enlist or reenlist during a time of war. The carryover people that went to war and came back heros, even though their sole intent was an easy out option to life. That, I suggest, was less of a sacrifice. That was an obligation, nothing more than keeping the contract that had been signed. They endured, yes, but only what they had to. What happened when their term was up? Did they re-up?
What about the Private that walks into the recruiters office knowing full well that we are at war and people are dying daily. They shoulder the responsibility and muster up the courage to sacrifice their very life to fight for their country. They aren’t trying for an easy out. They’re trying to make something with their life, wanting to prove that they can make a difference. They endure the perils, they put in the time, but they don’t get the respect.
Is it less of a sacrifice? They offer themselves up, but are more needed in capacities not in the war zone. Because someone picks them to fill this job instead of that job isn’t a reflection of their commitment, or a basis on which to judge what they’ve done.
The next time you encounter one who served in the armed forces, be quicker to ask when they joined then where they served. And ask if they chose to stay even after they knew the imminent dangers that faced them.
Sacrifice isn’t about what’s taken from you.
It’s about what you offer freely.
