The Ultimate Price has been Paid

Article One of the codes of conduct for members of the armed forces of the United States says “I am an American fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.” As a Marine Corps veteran these words are more than just a lofty philosophical concept. Article one means that I swore an oath that I would sacrifice my life to protect the American way of life. That I would die to protect the freedoms and liberties our citizens are blessed with at birth. Today we all should take a moment to reflect on what those freedoms and liberties are, and what it means to be an American citizen.

In the United States of America, people are allowed to practice whatever religion they want without being enslaved or murdered. Women are encouraged to seek out an education without the threat of execution if caught. We are free to love whomever they love without the anxiety of being slaughtered in the middle of the street. America is the country where everyone can find a safe place to embark on their pursuit of happiness. In this country anyone can become anything they are willing to work to achieve.

In Afghanistan, people cannot enjoy the same freedoms and liberties Americans enjoy. Additionally, people can be executed for believing in a different religion, Women are executed for seeking out an education, playing competitive sports, driving a car, leaving their homes unchaperoned, and those in the LGBTQ community are executed because of their lifestyle choices. This morning two explosions went off. Suicide bombers looking to harm crowds of people seeking evacuation from Kabul. After the explosions Islamic state gunmen opened fire killing over 100 individuals and disrupted the final push to evacuate people out of Afghanistan.

America lost 12 service members who swore an oath to sacrifice their lives in the defense of their county and their way of life. They paid the ultimate price to our nation in Kabul, Afghanistan this morning, standing tall in the face of oppression and insurgency. They fought to the death to keep the terrorists at bay while selflessly assisting others who were injured during two suicide bombings and an exhaustive weeklong evacuation out of hostile territory. Let us take a moment to pray for our fallen soldiers and for their heartbroken loved ones.