Free while the cause is thelive same. Everyone has a different reason for serving free. E ca. Maybe theyre following in their fathers footsteps, orserv they felt a calling after terrorists tore down the twin towersa call. For me, it was a Patriotictr Parade or a series oiotif them f a small town memorial day and the 4th Of July Parades in a tiny farm town in Southern Minnesota where my parents grewm up. The whole Town Linedinnesota Wh on the side of the tree lined main street, waiting for the veterans u to walk by. And when they came, older vets u and younger vets, the crowd clapped and salutes,d. The reverence that town had for the veterans made me say, wow, those men really did something special, somethingme did biggern this town, something bigger than themselves. These men were willing to put on a uniform and facet fo danger for me. A kid they never met. It was just a handful of veterans from one town. But rans from one town. Gave men like that. Out of sheer patriotism. And when you
free while the cause is thelive same. everyone has a different reason for serving free.e ca. maybe they re following in their father s footsteps, orserv they felt a calling after terrorists tore down the twin towersa call. for me, it was a patriotictr parade or a series oiotif them f a small town memorial day and the 4th of july parades in a tiny farm town in southern minnesota where my parents grewm up. the whole town linedinnesota wh on the side of the tree lined main street, waiting for the veterans u to walk by. and when they came, older vets u and younger vets, the crowd clapped and salutes,d. the reverence that town had for the veterans made me say, wow, those men really did something special, somethingme did biggern this town, something bigger than themselves. these men were willing to put on a uniform and facet fo danger for me. a kid they never met. it was just a handful of veterans from one town. but rans from one town. gave men like that. out of sheer patriot
act of fate at that point, that that incredible team, and people like sarah, bo white, rich, they are just incredible americans. absolutely. they also make me incredibly proud to be an american. if it weren t for them i wouldn t be here either. you also knew who to call because of your involvement over the years in some of these wounded warrior projects. i know you ve hosted the injured warrior experience, which allows them to speak. you work closely with the independence fund. you host the heroes of military awards which i m grateful as well, because military medicine brought me back walking again. you did all of these things before my attack happened. what drew you to that? what inspired you to go and help so many people, so many wounded veterans out there. when i started here at the pentagon it was 15 years ago. it was the start of the surge, and there were so many young americans who were losing their
ready to launch. but again, it was an act of fate at that point that thatdib incredible team and people like sara varnado, seaspray, bowe white, rich shattuck, they re just whi, incredible americans. absolutely. and they also make absol me ame incredibly proud to be an american. if it weren t for them that i wouldn t be here either. if it wethemt you also knew whol because of all your involvement you n some of theseheseolvement wounded warrior projects. i know that you have hosted the wounded warrior experience warrior ded warrior experience ,which allows injured veterans from afghanistan and iraq to speak about what happened to them to create these communities. you work closely with the independence them fund.pendence you host the hearings the heroes of military medicine awards, whicyou host hh i m verl for as well, because military medicine really saved me. got me walking again, brought me back. and so you ve you did all these things beforagain.d e my e happened. what drew you to