Heroes

The officer stood framed in the doorway, looked over the class of cadets, and began to speak.

“Cadets, look around you at these walls.  The portraits you see are the great heroes of this country.  Eisenhower, Patton, Marshall, Grant, Jackson: great leaders all, but not the true heroes of this country.  For these people, while they led armies into battle, actually planned the campaigns, and waited for the results.  The true Americans heroes were the thousands of men and women under their command, the soldiers and sailors who fought and died, pushed forward and fell back, won…and lost battles.

Brian Jenkins, John Willoughby, Paul Stone and thousands of others fought and died at these peoples commands so that you might enjoy the freedom to do what you’re doing; choosing your own destiny in the world.  The bodies that fill the military and civilian graveyards are the bodies of our true heroes, and yet they are really nothing more than farmers, factory workers, students, people of every possible circumstance who answered the call of their President.  They fought in Iraq, Afghanistan, Viet Nam, Korea, France, Germany, Mexico, and at places such as Shiloh, Gettysburg and Antietam.  They fought for you and they fought for me, they fought for all Americans.

Shortly, you will become lieutenants in our military.  Some of you may have your portraits on these walls.  But never forget who actually put you here…the true American heroes, the unknowns under your command.

And now, by the right flank, March!”