MizzouMom's Page

I want to tell you about my wonderful daughter, Sarah. She has known since her sophomore year in high school that she wanted to join the navy. She tells it best so I will just quote from an essay she wrote. "With freedom comes responsibility. I didn’t truly understand this concept until I had the honor of being selected to go on a trip to Hawaii with my NJROTC unit. The highlight of our itinerary was a tour of Pearl Harbor, which ended with a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. It was there, standing in front of the wall with all the names of those who perished aboard the Arizona that I, for the first time in my life, fully comprehended the price of my freedom. The people aboard that ship were willing to give their lives to ensure the freedom of their fellow Americans, myself included. Their sacrifice allows me to be free: free from persecution, free to do what I wish, free to be who I want to be. It was an epiphany that rooted me to the spot; I couldn’t walk away. I realized that I had been selfishly enjoying all these liberties without any thought to those who had paid so high a price for them. It was at that moment that I decided to join the Navy. Not to be a hero, or to have my name on a wall somewhere at some point in the future, but to serve my country and fulfill my responsibility to protect and preserve the freedom that has been bought with the lives of so many. I yearn to repay those, like the men of the Arizona, who have given their lives so that I may live freely. I yearn to emulate their courage and character; to protect the freedom of my generation and generations to come." I am so proud to be Sarah's mom and a Navy mom!