05/25/2026
Live Free AF. Remember Everyone.
As I sit here drinking my coffee this morning, looking out at a world of absolute opportunity, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice to make this life possible.
Today belongs to the ones who didn’t make it home to be a Veteran.
They didn’t get to feel that overwhelming wave of relief when you land in Bangor, Maine, walking through a sea of waving flags held by patriotic senior citizens. They never got that profound feeling of “I made it back home,” when just a couple of days prior, you were training your replacement as a Vehicle Commander in a Force Protection MRAP, pushing a Panama City Mine Roller through the Al Anbar Province.
It could have been me. But it wasn’t.
I found a strange peace with death during my first deployment, but I truly learned to embrace the reality of it during my second. I never thought it would be possible to actually find peace in that dark corner, but I did. I knew that better men—Marines who came before me—had died for this country, and if they could do it, so could I. I realized that if I was to leave this earth, I would be joining the ranks of the people I admired the most: the Marines of Guadalcanal, the heroes of Iwo Jima, etc...
Being with them in spirit brought me peace, even through the constant, exhausting interruptions in my head thinking about home. Thinking about how much it would hurt my family if the worst happened. I remember lying to them about the mission for OPSEC, but mostly just so they wouldn't worry. Thankfully, my family never had to see those Dress Blues walking up to the front doorstep.
But some families didn’t have that luxury.
It hurts deep in the gut to know there are families still living with that agonizing pain today, and I wish to God I could take it from them. I can’t even imagine.
They died so that we could live.
I know today is incredibly tough for Veterans, too. It’s a brotherhood of shared weight, not just blood. But when the shadows start creeping in, I look at it this way: We can choose to go down the rabbit hole, drink, and let the sadness consume us all day... or we can do exactly what the fallen would want us to do.
LIVE FREE AF TODAY.
Live today like you’re hitting Route Irish tomorrow. Do not waste the life they bought for you. We are standing in the greatest country on Earth because of those who paid the ultimate price, and I am eternally grateful for every single soul who gave their life for our freedom.
Enjoy your freedom today. Honor them by living it to the absolute fullest.
Semper Fidelis. 🇺🇸
VBC Actual
