On this Memorial Day I
want to offer a tribute to the unknown soldier—not the one entombed at
Arlington, but to the countless multitudes of our armed forces who are known
only to their family and comrades-in-arms.
They’ve never done anything particularly heroic. Either by virtue of serving in peacetime or
serving off the battlefront during war, these unknown soldiers have neither
fired a shot in anger nor dodged bullets and bombs targeting them. They’ve gone about their business quietly—swabbing
some deck, working in the motor pool, fixing airplanes and helicopters, typing
correspondence, cooking for the men and women at their base, or any number of
background grunt jobs that have kept them out of the limelight and far away
from the glory.
When they pass through an
airport, some bystander may say, “Thank you for your service,” and though they
smile in return they feel a little embarrassed about it, thinking: “My service? What have I
done that deserves thanks?” When they
return home they don’t have exciting stories to tell and no one holds a parade
in their honor. They are our unknown
soldiers and sailors and airmen and women.
And yet, they are the
backbone of our military. Where would
the well-known surgeon be if she didn’t have scrub nurses, lab techs, nurse
anesthetists, and recovery room nurses, supporting her work? Where would a much-loved pastor be if he
didn’t have a good staff and so many volunteers who do the work of ministry
that makes him look better than he is?
And where would the military heroes be if they didn’t have adequate
supplies, enough munitions, accurate intel, medics to patch them up, and
transport to and from the place where their heroism shines. Only a very few can be Navy Seals, Green
Berets, Rangers, Marine Recon, and fighter pilots. Most of our military just do their duty day
by day wherever Uncle Sam sends them.
They do it for far less pay than they’re worth and for far less
appreciation than they deserve. Ladies and gentlemen, I salute you!
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