"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."
-Elmer Davis
Gibbs stepped off the elevator and headed to his desk. It was extremely early on a cold Monday morning, and the bullpen was desolate of the normal buzz of activity.
He got to his desk and did a double take. There, on his desk, was a steaming cup of coffee from his favorite café and a sticky note attached to it. He looked around the bullpen, searching for the culprit, but finding no one. He peeled the brightly colored piece of paper off the cup and read the couple of lines printed in beautiful cursive on it.
To a veteran:
On this Veteran's Day, I thank you for your service to our country. Your courage under fire, steadfast commitment, and unparalleled sacrifice to our country are greatly appreciated.
Semper fi, Marine.
He set the note down and slowly brought the coffee to his lips, its rich, familiar aroma awakening his still groggy senses. He had forgotten today was Veteran's Day.
He thought back to his days as a Marine, a thousand memories, some he hadn't thought about in years, all of a sudden rapidly racing through his mind. Exhaustedly trudging eight miles in the darkness during the Crucible at Parris Island. Listening to the anguished cries of grievously injured men in Iraq. The teary faces of both Shannon and Kelly as he said his good-byes. The constant beeping of his heart monitor in the hospital after his injury in Kuwait. The formality of his Purple Heart ceremony.
He also remembered the names that he and his fellow recruits called the head drill instructor behind his back during boot. The dirty jokes told during the long nights in Iraq and the loud guffaws that followed. The determination to return on each of his fellow Marine's- his brother's-faces as they left their families to deploy to Kuwait. The tears and joy in their eyes as they returned and saw their families for the first time in months. The pride and admiration shining in their eyes as the Purple Heart was pinned to his breast.
Yes, it had been a sacrifice- an immense sacrifice. He had missed a lot of things that he would never, ever get back, but he had also gained something that could never be lost: a family, thousands of brothers and sisters-in-arms who would always have his back.
He leaned back thoughtfully and slowly drank his coffee, savoring each steaming sip as he relived each bitter-sweet memory.
A/N: To all who have served, thank you for your service! You did something that many people are either unwilling or unable to do. You rose to the occasion and defended our country's freedom, during times of both peace and unrest.
Whether you were in the United States Army, National Guard, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, or Marine Corps, THANK YOU for your overwhelming courage, unwavering commitment, and heart-wrenching sacrifice. It will NEVER be forgotten. May your legacy inspire others to follow in your footsteps and protect our country's freedom.
To everyone else, please don't forget to thank a veteran for his or her service to our country. Without their sacrifice, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms and privileges we do today.