Our Legacy

Memorial Day 2017, serves as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that is being kept alive by our Active Duty military by leaving their families, and understanding that some of their duties called for facing death every day while their families take on the responsibilities you left behind. I never understood why joining the Marines, gave me a sense of belonging to another generation of our American Legacy, and as one of the four generations in my family to serve I am proud to know that my service helped preserve the History, of my legacy. My uncle David, is a WW II, received a Silver Star, while fighting on the Island of Leyte, in the Philippines, and he recovered on the front lines in time to disarm the Japanese civilians on the mainland. It is amazing that a young man was just trying to do his part wherever he was needed, and in the service of his country only God, and his buddies helped him return to his family. I have 3, brothers, two nephews, an niece and two great nephews that have served in the military, and several cousins that have answered the call to duty without hesitation.

We never took the time to think about why our service was necessary or why our service had a role in keeping our legacy alive, but at a time when my country needed me it was my choice to serve to protect our legacy with the sacrifices that came with that service. Active Duty servicemen transition from the civilian world rapidly through Basic Training to their Military Occupational Specialty, and then that training is put to the test by performing their job professionally to the degree that it may mean someone lives or dies. Veterans go from knowing that their crisis mode is a way of life which they rely on to stay alive, and to keep their buddies alive which at any moment can trigger that crisis mode that becomes like second nature. It is difficult to transition from a way of life that began to change the moment the reality sunk in that it was time to be discharged, and you began to think what is the next step when I leave to take back my role as a father, son, mother or daughter and protect my home? The moment you step off that plane to see your family and friends greet you that sudden surreal flood of emotions overwhelm you, and it may take several days for them to subside before you can even begin to think what next? Where do I find information about my VA, benefits? Where do I find a job? When are my next bills due? Will I have time to go back to school to provide for my family? These are just a few of the thousands of questions that a Veteran is faced with in their own transition from the rigid military way of life that we lived with, and now I do not even know where to start to take my life back because they did not tell me where to find the information that I need.

These are questions that I dealt with in the 2, months it took me to find a job when I was discharged, but I was living in my mom's house without paying rent or paying bills that I was responsible for. Most Veterans these days cannot wait 2, months to pay their rent, put food on their table, put gas in the car, pay their car note, and look for a job while all these bills are going to come with or without a job to help make those payments. It is understandable as to why some of our Veterans are completely unprepared for these responsibilities, and some of them get involved with Substance Abuse or Mental Health issues which take a toll on the family as well. Transition should as the term defines take a progressive Physical, Cognitive, and Emotional preparation before you are given the responsibility that is well earned. Our American Legacy, has transitioned from the days of the War of Independence, set in motion by our Founding Fathers, entrusted to us, and to those that believed in our American Legacy, without hesitation to keep that legacy alive. I have discovered the reason why we have all decided to serve while the sacrifices that we, and our families made deserve to understand why their loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice.

The reason is explained on our web site at legacybeyondvalor.net, as a Veteran volunteer would discover at a non-profit fundraiser, or while transporting a cancer patient to their doctor's appointment to share their stories, shake hands, a hug, or shed a tear. That is why when the Veteran and that patient would realize that he, and his family sacrificed so much as his family waited while he decided to serve his country. Check out the Beyond Valor, web site at legacybeyondvalor.net, to find out more about our Network Platform, and the 13,639, that are prepared to spring into action once we hit the mainstream media.