Being in the military is not an easy feat. It is an institution that requires dedication, discipline, and determination, and demands so much out of a soldier that those who join are changed forever. Enlisting in the military is a patriotic act of self-sacrifice where soldiers voluntarily leave their families and loved ones behind in order to protect and serve the country from those that seek to harm it. Though service might lead to glory, those who are in the military and their families know that they will be in harm’s way, but it is a risk they are willing to take for honor and pride.

Some critics question the reason for those who join the military. One reason, they say, is that they join for the money. Military pensions and benefits are often preferable to a clerical or a dead-end job behind a counter or a desk. Some people cannot afford higher education, so the GI Bill that provides thirty-six months of education for veterans and eligible service members is a very enticing offer, especially in a world that won’t give your resume a second glance if you haven’t done at least four years of college. This is what many breadwinners with families to take care of do, and it is often a painful experience to see these families grieve for the loss of their beloved parent, child, or sibling.

Another reason is that they enlist for the travel opportunities. The United States has many bases around the world, and joining the military can be an exciting route for would-be explorers wanting to see exotic places that they otherwise would not have been able to go to on a regular salary.

For others, it becomes traditional. Military families have their sons and daughters enlist as a traditional career route for them, and these families are proud of this way of giving back to the country they love.

But whatever the reason, in the end, it all boils down to their love for their homeland. This is the kind of American patriotism that values human rights, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that form the core values of the American way of life. These men and women are patriots that want to protect their homeland and their loved ones from external threat. These people make the ultimate sacrifice for both land and love and are often the most revered heroes. These heroes might be someone’s father, brother, son, mother, sister, or daughter, and there is a certain shine when they are spoken of because they bring pride not only to themselves but also to their friends and family. These people are treated with respect and honor because they have taken an immense responsibility voluntarily.

Most veterans when asked why they served in the military will say it was because of honor and pride. It was because of the honor they felt when they protected those they loved and the values they held dear. It was because of the pride they felt when children grew up free and without worries, when people went to work and school without fears and threat, and when they protected their way of life and all those who believed in it. Truly, it is because of the military that makes the United States of America a land of the free and the home of the brave.

The post Honor and Pride appeared first on My Journey.