Service Above Self

Image courtesy: Cpl. Bryan Nygaard

It's easy to take freedom for granted. In history's most connected society, where iPhones, iPads, and iMacs help us discover the "I" in America, our country has never been more disconnected from a war. Despite all the new technology at our disposal, those who volunteer to fight our enemies are rarely noticed outside their hometowns.

Any of us, whether walking down the street wearing headphones or watching TV and surfing the web at home, could easily go a week without hearing a single word about the war in Afghanistan. In fact, some don't even realize the conflict is still being fought. In the 21st century, we hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see.

Since Christmas Day, when a soldier named Staff Sgt. Joseph Altmann, 27, made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, at least four U.S. troops have been killed in combat.

Sgt. Noah M. Korte, 29, Lake Elsinore, California
Spc. Kurt Kern, 24, McAllen, Texas
Pfc. Justin Whitmire, 20, Easley, South Carolina
Petty Officer 1st Class Chad Regelin, 24, Cottonwood, California

According to the Pentagon, Sgt. Korte, Spc. Kern, and Pfc. Whitmire were killed on Dec. 27 when terrorists attacked their Army unit with an improvised explosive device in Paktia province. To the southwest, Petty Officer 1st Class Regelin, a explosive ordnance disposal technician with the U.S. Navy, died Monday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province. Clearly, Afghanistan remains extremely dangerous for thousands of brave troops.

Am I asking too much of the national media, which often assures us the conflict is "winding down" when bothering to report on Afghanistan in the first place, to cover a war with the same vigor it shows for a January political caucus in Iowa? Is America still a patriotic nation that cares about the men and women who defend its shores from the type of evil we all witnessed on Sept. 11, 2001?

Every time I get discouraged, I read about the lives of remarkable Americans like the four men listed above. While we don't know exactly what they did on the battlefield, and perhaps never will, we do know this: they cut through the technological, media-driven clutter of our time and discovered the same thing that so many before them knew in their hearts. America is worth dying for.

There's always a lot of talk about resolutions this time of year, so here is one I hope we can come together to keep. Once a day, at minimum, let's pause to think about our men and women in harm's way, and if you are religious, please say a prayer for them too. Then, in their honor, perform one act that puts service above self. That could mean anything from opening a door for someone to making a large charitable donation. How you challenge yourself each day to salute our men and women in uniform is up to you.

By sticking to this resolution and doing so out of public view, I believe it will help us understand, if only for a few seconds, what a deployed American warrior feels like. Their good deeds are done thousands of miles away without almost anyone noticing back home. Still, they continue to perform courageous, heroic acts, always putting service above self.

It's not easy to treat freedom like it deserves: with reverence, readiness, and respect, no matter who is watching. That's why an ordinary citizen like me has so much admiration for every single volunteer warrior who serves with honor. These men and women -- not politicians, celebrities, journalists, or sports figures -- keep the stars on our flag shining bright.

Image courtesy: Sgt. Trey Harvey