Congratulations Amanda Louise Miller!
The 2009 Veterans Day Scholarship winner is Amanda Louise Miller, from Kentucky!
Her winning essay:
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What Do We Owe Our Veterans? And Why?
On August 14, 2007 at 1:35 in the morning my brother, Pvt. Craig Miller, called home. My Mom and I simultaneously answered from different bedrooms. We had both been waiting for this call for over a week. Craig, in an armored troop carrier, had just crossed over the border from Kuwait into Iraq. Through the scratch and static of a terrible connection, half a world away, I heard the words “I Love You Guys.”
“Where are you Craig? Are you okay?” I asked. But there was no response, just the popping and cracking of a fleeting connection. The signal had faded and he was gone. The convoy, shrouded in darkness, and led by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) detection vehicle, weaved its way through the desert night to an unknown location. Crowded in the bed of an army vehicle, and traveling on a dusty dangerous road in the middle of the desert, my brother felt alone. Basic training had not prepared these young men and women, my brother included, for the isolation they would feel on their first night in a war zone.
Tears formed in my eyes as I realized that while I was lying in my comfortable bed at home, he was thousands of miles away facing the unknown. I thought about how terrified he must be, so far away from the family. How could he go to bed not knowing what the night might bring? How could he fall asleep on a cold cot every night? I know that I could never muster the courage it took to push through fifteen grueling months in the desert enduring endless days of heat and exhaustion spent working with Iraqi men, never knowing for certain if they were friend or foe. Craig said the air was so thick each day, between the sweltering heat and constant fear, it could be cut with a knife. Like my brother, many men and women have gone through similar experiences and they should be thanked every day for the sacrifices they have made.
My brother is still active military and is scheduled to deploy again in April. His time in Iraq has earned him the privilege of being called a veteran of foreign wars. While on his tour, he left behind a wife, two daughters, and a family he loves, to fight for our freedom. It’s the little things in life that we take for granted that our military men and women dream of. Just consider how it must be to finish a three day mission and then stand in line for three hours in stifling heat to get a ten minute phone call to wish your mother Happy Mother’s Day. They miss their child’s first words, spend anniversaries without their loved ones, and wake up Christmas morning to no tree or presents. We must remember to cherish these moments in life and to fully appreciate those who willingly sacrifice them. It is because of our military, active and retired, that you and I don’t miss these moments in our own lives. It is because of them that Americans can celebrate holidays in any way they choose, without religious persecution or government intervention.
I learned many things during his tour of duty about myself and life in general. I felt fear and anxiety when days would pass with no call and made it a point every night to say an extra prayer for him and his wife. I found myself, along with my Mom, watching CNN whenever we were at home. Although it was upsetting, I wanted to know as much information as possible about what he was going through. I came to fully recognize that only those who have served can truly understand the stress and sacrifice our military men and women endure to sustain our freedom. Whether it’s a sandy desert in Iraq, a swampy rice paddy in Korea or Vietnam, or a rocky beach in Europe, only our veterans have known the true meaning of “camaraderie” and the pride of “fighting for our brothers.” It doesn’t matter whether you support the war, or even the government, but supporting our soldiers and veterans is simply our duty. They fulfill their duty with honor and pride, and we should do no less. Without our willing warriors, our lives would be tremendously different in ways we could never imagine.
At the end of his tour Craig, along with his battalion, returned to their base in Vielseck, Germany. Several thousand weary soldiers stood at attention, facing their families after 15 long months. They thought of finally being home with their loved ones. They also thought of those who had not made it, the brothers they had lost. These men and women who had made the ultimate sacrifice were remembered that day. My mother and I made a trip there to experience this moment in his life with him. As I stood with my nieces, holding a sign that said “We love our soldier,” hundreds of families surrounded us with their signs and American flags. It was truly beautiful to see the pride on everyone’s face. I thought about the long journey that was ending for my brother and how proud I was of him for making it through. I looked back to the first night when he told me he had joined the Army. I remembered the anger and shock that overcame me at first because I didn’t want to lose my only brother to war. As I stood with my family, and peered out over the crowd of red, white, and blue, I realized how selfish I had been that day.
After the ceremony, we searched through a sea of buzzed heads and camouflage looking for him for a long time. I will never forget the feeling I had when he finally walked up. He was about fifty pounds lighter and walked with a sense of dignity that he had never had before. It was incredible. He was like a whole new person. Before my brother joined the Army he had very low self-esteem, but when I saw him at this very moment I could already tell he had found his purpose in life. He had found what made him feel important. These returning warriors were proud of their country, their families, and of each other. Together they had made it through one of the hardest times in their lives.
What do we owe these brave men and women? Why should we honor them? I believe we owe them, and their families, an enormous debt of gratitude. A motto in the military, “never leave a brother behind”, should be embraced by the American people through continued support for our veterans and their families after their military service has ended. Our military men and women have answered the ultimate call of duty. They have given themselves freely to allow us to make our own decisions and to live a free life. People in other countries don’t have these privileges. They look to America for assistance in their fight against oppression. We should honor our military for making the commitment to represent us in this struggle.
How should we honor them? As Americans we enjoy freedom of choice. It is up to each of us personally to make that choice. We can choose to turn off the nightly news and avoid the sight of wounded warriors, or we can choose to shake their hands and thank them for their service to our country. We, as Americans, have so much to be thankful for. The least fortunate among us lives better than the people our soldiers are protecting in third world countries. The men and women of our military truly believe that by ridding the world of tyranny, and helping oppressed people rebuild their lives, they are insuring our freedom. They also believe in America and the role it serves around the world. Sad to say, there are many citizens of the United States who don’t have much pride, so in times like this we must support those who do. They will be the ones, guided by their honor and duty, standing up for our freedom in the end.
My brother Craig is not the only member of my family who has served our country. My Grandfather retired from the U.S. Air Force and taught me from a young age the importance of serving your country and living your life with honor. Growing up I was always perplexed by the tears that streamed down his face when he would say the Pledge of Allegiance or by his behavior whenever he would meet another veteran. Total strangers, they would embrace and tell with enthusiasm and respect where and when they served. Not until I witnessed my older brother with his fellow soldiers, did I truly realize why it was so important to my Grandfather. My Grandmother, who has taught me so much about life, has lived through several wars. A child during World War II she came to know sacrifice and patriotism. Even today she never sees a soldier that she doesn’t stop, thank him, and shake his hand.
Now I understand. I too thank our soldiers and veterans. I thank them for taking the call. I understand, from a sister’s perspective, the sacrifices and fears they have faced. I am proud of my brother and of his many “brothers.”
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