Last week, the Torch published articles about the football game played on Sept. 11, but did not focus on the Honoring American Heroes event.
I understand that some may feel that the Torch was disrespecting current and former members of the military by not covering the event. It was in no way the intention of the Torch to show any disrespect toward the men and women of the armed services by not covering the event in a different way.
It was not that I thought the event was not worthy of coverage; I simply failed to assign it or write about it myself. As I watched young men and women make the commitment to serve in the military during halftime of the football game, I realized just how important a sacrifice they were making.
Americans often take for granted the sacrifice that military personnel make every day. Imagine not being able to see your family for months, even years at a time. Imagine living in arduous conditions thousands of miles away from home. Everyone should take the time to thank a member of the American armed forces for protecting the freedoms we often take for granted.
It is easy to forget how many men and women who have died serving our country. We should never forget the events of 9/11 and the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on that fateful day. Every firefighter, police officer, warfighter and citizen who searched risked their lives to save their fellow Americans should be honored.
It takes an enormous amount of patriotism and love of the U.S. to give up your freedoms, and often your life, to protect your fellow citizens. There is no greater sacrifice surrendering your life so that others may live in peace.
There is a reason very few wars have been fought on American soil and that is because out troops are willing to take the fight to other nations. They are willing to travel away from to defend our rights and our freedoms. n