It never amazes me observing the lengths which our young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines are willing to go to exemplify their selflessness and honor. With Republican primaries in full swing, economic calamities, the Arab Spring under way, and now Qaddafi about to be ousted, something huge is taking place with little media attention–until now.
The U.S. military, this time from the Air Force, has taken serious strides (literally) demonstrating their brilliance as one of our nation’s greatest assets.
On the march so we never forget….
July 12th, members from Air Force Security Forces squadrons came together to remember that tragic day of 9-11 and their fallen comrades. They initiated a road march starting at the Security Forces training center at Lackland AFB, TX soon to end on September 11th at Ground Zero.
More than 2,100 miles broken down into 15 legs will be marched from Lackland to Ground Zero– groups covering approximately 140 miles each.
SAPD Lt. Joe Salvaggio and comrades
These troops have taken an initiative to “Never Forget.” They will not only never forget this horrific day which placed them in harm’s way fighting our enemies in foreign lands, but they have also taken the initiative to never forget their brethren in arms who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
They do not do this for money, glamor, or prestige; no, they do this for honor and love of country.
Approximately six thousand service members paid the ultimate sacrifice since 9-11. No matter the service branch, they are all brothers and sisters with no greater love for one another. The Air Force, like other branches, is doing their part in fulfilling what appears to be a relatively new military tradition–memorial marching.
Marches like these are not just about remembrance–they are so much more.
Fulfilling a march like this takes an enormous amount of physical and mental fortitude. Pride and honor must be engrained in the mind of the marcher. Marchers forget about their own sorrows and troubles and concentrate on making it to their final destiny. They do not complain, no, they take honor in what they set out to achieve picking one another up when they are down, pushing each other to their limits.
It’s a long journey but with a slow and steady stride, only weeks from now on the anniversary of 9-11, our best and brightest will show the nation how to start and finish anything the mind desires. These are our heroes, these are our “Defenders,” and these are some of our nation’s greatest assets. We as a nation can learn a lot from them.
“Defensor Fortis”, Latin, literally meaning “Defender of the Mighty One” is the Security Forces motto. As a nation, the United States is the “Mighty One” and it’s because of people like our all-volunteer force and people like our Security Forces “Defenders” that America remains the greatest nation on earth. It’s with great pride knowing I once served with these American heroes–God Bless you Defenders!
Kerry Patton is the Co-Founder of the National Security Leadership Foundation, a non-profit organization pending 501c (3) status. He has worked in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, focusing on intelligence and security interviewing current and former terrorists, including members of the Taliban. He is the author of “Sociocultural Intelligence: The New Discipline of Intelligence Studies” and the children’s book “American Patriotism.” You can follow him on Facebook
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