Veteran's Day Message

This Veteran’s Day, a day to honor all service members who gave an oath to protect our country, those of us here at Savage Tacticians want to recognize and thank all Veterans for their courage, sacrifice, and dedication to uphold that oath during their time in our military’s ranks.

I am reminded of the many ways Veterans can be acknowledged for this chapter of their lives. From the Veteran’s Day ceremonies and parades to the simple “thank you for your service.” As a Veteran myself, I understand that life after service, while sometimes difficult to transition to, eventually turns into an everyday American life. When the day ends, I can sit and reflect and appreciate that this is exactly the reason why I chose to join the Marine Corps in 2004 and become an infantryman: to live an everyday American life free of terrorism on American soil. So, whether it’s Veteran’s Day or not, I take the thanks and acknowledgment given as a sign that others also appreciate their everyday American life.

This everyday American life, that I am fortunate enough to lead, is a daily reminder of those I served with. From movie quotes to songs. From the way the treeline looks across the farmland in Eastern North Carolina and its odd similarity to the landscapes of Southern Helmand. From the way I can watch my kids play with their friends in the street of our neighborhood without a care in the world. These are just a few of the ways that I honor and acknowledge those I served with and though I do not keep in touch with all of them, I hope they know this.

So this Veteran’s Day, let us take that moment of silence together and appreciate that our regular, everyday American lives include the freedom to dream, the freedom to choose, and the freedom to seek out happiness because of those who took that oath.

AJ Manglona

Sgt, USMC (Ret.)