This past week I went with my husband to the Reunion of his Navy squadron who served together on an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam war. This was the first time in more than 45 years that these men had seen each other; all of them were visibly emotional about this gathering. Watching the camaraderie of these men as they reminisced was profound.
I believe that there are so many occasions in life when we create truly memorable experiences that will have an impact on the lives of those around us. Some of us choose to make these experiences positive ones while others simply move through the motions without any consideration of the influence of their behaviors. The respect these men shared during their tenure as they served our country and, likewise the respect they showed when they reunited, has resulted in a lifelong connection.
To quote the science journalist Mary Roach, “Heroism
doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and
large hearts change the course of history.”