My hero is my grandpa.

Last night, my mom and I watched the movie Pearl Harbor for a school assignment. I have never watched this entire movie from start to finish until last night. For those of you that have watched it, I think you can relate to me when I say that this movie has completely changed my perspective on the military. Both my mom and I were brought to tears because this movie hits extremely close to home.

As I was watching the movie, I couldn't help but think of my very own grandpa who past away over eight years ago. My grandpa was a medic at Normandy during World War II. He was assigned the job of identifying soldiers, based on their dog tags, who had passed away in combat. Many of the people he had to identify were people he had trained with and had become friends with.

If any of you had the pleasure of meeting my grandfather, you saw an extremely patriotic man who had so much pride and love for his country, especially after his service to our country. Never was there a day that an American flag wasn't up in his yard nor would you ever hear him complain about the country that he loved. On the outside, you saw a happy and proud man. But on the inside, he was struggling from his time as a medic at Normandy. Upon retuning home from war, grandpa struggled with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and would wake up screaming at night because of nightmares and flashbacks of war, and was in and out of treatment for alcohol abuse. I can't even begin to imagine what my grandpa must have went through at Normandy. Although my grandpa returned home from war alive, he sacrificed his normal life for a life of PTSD and alcohol abuse. All because he loved his country so much.

My grandpa passed away when I was six or seven so I never was able to truly appreciate what he did for our country while he was still alive. Now, at 18, I'm beginning to actually wrap my head around what my grandpa did and why he did it. He loved this country with all of his heart and he wanted a better life for future generations. He saw the mass destruction of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and knew that a life of conflict and war was no way to live. He wanted better for our country.

I am so incredibly thankful for what my grandpa went through and I feel even more blessed to be able to call him my grandfather. I wish that I would have been old enough to appreciate what he did for our country and thank him for sacrificing his life to maintain a free United States of America. My grandpa is everything that I hope to be and more.

Please take a moment to silently pray for those who are currently overseas protecting our freedom and for those who have passed on while in battle. You may not agree with the current wars, but that's no reason to complain about them. Next time you see someone in uniform, thank them. Seriously... Thank them. It takes a whole second to say "thank you". They are giving up so much for their country and many times are looked down upon. Pray for those whose final resting place is at sea at Pearl Harbor. Pray for people like my grandpa, who struggle every day with PTSD. And next time you start complain about war, stop yourself. Instead thank those who have sacrificed everything so that you could be free.

Much love,
Bailey