Silent Hero

I have something on my mind I want to share with you folks today. It's important, and I hope you'll take the time to read through my ramblings and maybe pass a link to other folks you know.

I want to tell you about my brother-in-law, Bill.

Bill is serving in the Air National Guard, just as he's been doing for the last 18 or so years. He's one of the most solid, dependable, helpful guys you could ever hope to meet and I'm pretty damn proud to have him as a member of my family. Here's one reason why:

Bill's unit is currently deployed in Biloxi, Mississippi helping rebuild the infrastructure that was destroyed by Katrina. Their day starts early (it's the military after all!) and they work hard all day with the Corp of Engineers: repairing roads, removing debris, etc. It's a hot, dirty, unpleasant task but that's what these guys do. Their primary function is runway repair but they're highly skilled heavy equipment operators and road builders, so this is right up their alley. That's their job and they're happy to do it. These are men and women who volunteered for just this type of service and the fact that they're out there, helping repair such an immensely damaged area is something to make us all proud of them. These are folks who deserve a whole lot of honor for just doing their duty.

Now, consider this:

After long days of busting their hump in the hot Mississippi sun, it would be a perfectly reasonable thing for these people to head back to base, get some food, take a shower, and catch some well deserved rest. These folks are working seven days a week, so that's what I'd be doing! Not these guys though. Instead of going back to base; as soon as their shift is over, these men and women are grabbing their tool belts and going door-to-door throughout Biloxi, helping everyone that they can to rebuild their homes. They're ripping out mildew covered walls and putting up new drywall. They're humping 100 lb. packages of shingles up ladders and replacing roofs. They're cleaning out yards and helping mothers sort through the scattered debris to find their child's favorite toy. They're doing this without pay, without incentive . . . on their own time and with no expectation of praise or thanks. The men and women of the Air National Guard are working 16-18 hour days, seven days a week to help people in desperate need. They're not being paid. They're running on just a few quick hours of sleep. They're miles from their wives and families. They're working under some of the worst conditions imaginable and doing it without complaint. There's no news crew watching them, no officer ordering them to do this . . . they're doing it when they could be warm, clean, comfortable, and well fed back at base intead of up to their armpits in mud, mold, and misery. Why are they doing all of this?

Because they can.

That's my brother-in-law, Bill. Him, and thousands of others, who put on a uniform and do the right thing because it needs to be done. I'm proud to have him in my family.

I'm proud of all of them.

Thanks for listening in.

Later!