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 these men saw each other in-person over 45 years ago; 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.”