It’s been many years since I sat at this spot watching the Memorial Day sunrise with my three closest friends … still awake from a long night of drinking.
Four young brothers convinced they were invincible. Four inseparable friends talking about how so few people think about what this day means, as they watched the partiers arriving on the beach.
At the typical “I love you man” level of drinking, we casually agreed that if any of us were to die on our upcoming deployments … the others would toss their dog tags in the ocean and return to this spot every year at sunrise to pour out a shot of whiskey.
On that morning, I never imagined that I would be tossing three sets of dog tags in the ocean. I never could have imagined that I’d be driving alone through the night every year to catch the sunrise at this spot.
I didn’t know how much I would rely on this annual tradition to reflect on where they would be in their lives if they were still here.
Every year I reflect on whether I’m living a life worthy of being “the one who didn’t die”.
Having flown half way across the world from Ukraine to be here this morning, I can tell you that I sure as hell am trying to live that worthy life.
When I shared this story with Nick a couple weeks ago outside of Bakhmut, I had no idea that my American brother would be killed on my last day there, before I began my trek to the States.
There’s a lot about life that we don’t know. I have seen so much pain and lost so many friends in this past year it is a struggle to remember that the sun still comes up. But as this day is meant to symbolize … I do remember.
I have more memories to hold on to than I deserve. I have been incredibly fortunate to spend time working with some of the best people to ever live.
I ask everyone reading this to remember, as I do … the politicians will play their games, the public figures will sell their tales … but at the end of the day, there are amazing people who continue doing the right thing and demonstrating the purest of love for their “neighbors”.
We as humans have a capacity for intense kindness and protection of others … and unlike those public figures … many have given their lives to the greatest purpose of protecting the freedom for good people to live their lives.
Today, I ask you to join me in remembering those people and honoring them in the way we live our lives.
I have no idea how I’m still alive, and no idea when my number will be called … but until that day, I will do everything in my power to live a life of purpose, focused on what really matters and indifferent to trending political drama intended to divide us … and I invite you to do the same. They deserve it. Those who gave their lives, deserve it.
May the memories live forever 🍻
#memorialday
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One more GIVEAWAY before the pre-sale ends (tomorrow). Like, retweet, and follow for a chance to win any item from our official @SMPLFD x Lions collab. Winner chosen 1/13/23 at 3pm EST.
https://t.co/ZJIzNUdO6C
🚨ATTENTION VILLAGE OF THE DEN🚨
For today and tomorrow, your Pro Bowl votes count DOUBLE!
Please RT TO VOTE and have a blessed day💙🙏🏾
#ProBowlVote + @jswaggdaddy
Favor to ask: can you please retweet the tweet below so that the world can hear it and see a person with ALS.
Some call me strong. I call myself lucky. I have had time that most ALS patients don’t get.
Let’s change that, together.
From this day forward, the official portraits of former President Obama and former First Lady Obama will now display on the walls of the White House – the People’s House – forever.
26 years ago, a gunman entered
Dunblane Primary School in Scotland,
killing 16 kids and a teacher. The UK
govt responded by enacting tight gun
control legislation. In the 9400+ days
since, there have been a total of O
school shootings in the UK. #Uvalde
Doesn’t get said enough:
1. Thank you @POTUS for having the guts to get us out of Afghanistan & end America’s longest war. Leaving was always gonna be ugly, but u held firm.
2. Thank you @POTUS for uniting the free world against Putin & for strongly & smartly defending Ukraine.