August 7, National Purple Heart Day. A day to honor those who sacrificed for our freedoms; those wounded or killed in combat. For the wounded, some wounds heal quicker than others.

Today I honor my son Aaron. Wounded in the Battle of Mogadishu, October 3-4, 1993.

Receiving a call from the Department of Defense is something that is burned into your mind. Mine came after days of watching live action on CNN watching as young men were being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu. I found myself trying to determine if it was my son in these scenes. The truth is they were all my sons, they all wore US uniforms, they were all oh so young. Mine, just a little over a year earlier, had a midnight curfew; now he was one of America’s finest defending the weak and fighting for the lives of the poor and starving in Somalia. They were there to prevent starving and assist in the distribution of food that was being hijacked by warlords in the area.

The Purple Heart, “The Purple Heart medal represents courage, sacrifice, commitment and ‘heart.’
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Thank you Aaron for your service then, and now, to defend the weak, uphold the law, for everyday putting others lives before your own.

Be safe out there 💜