Memorial Day essay that came in as a runner-up out of my entire class. I'm actually very proud of this one.

“To War and Back”

It takes bravery and a sense of duty to go out to fight, or even just to work in the war zones. I believe that the roughly 133,000 U.S troops stationed over in Iraq right now are heroes, each and every one of them, just by being brave enough to go.

What is a hero? Is it someone who stands up to the lions of injustice? Is it someone who risks being mocked to uphold their morals? Or is it someone who sacrifices his old life for his loved ones at home? The men and women who go over to these faraway places bravely put their lives on the line to protect us here. The soldiers who go, go willingly, with the knowledge that they may be leaving forever. They know perfectly well what they are getting into and what they are fighting for, but do not know what fate has in store for them. But they go anyway. If that is not bravery, I do not know what is.

The dictionary definition of bravery is, “a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear.” I am not sure how many soldiers do not actually feel fear as we would, but even though they are afraid, they do their duty with pride. Brave, in and of itself means, “possessing or displaying courage; valiant.” Possessing or displaying courage. What could be more of a possession or display of courage than to leave your friends, family, and loved ones behind for an uncertain future? Our soldiers are truly brave, in every sense of the word. Not only do they face uncertainty in surviving, but the heat alone is enough to drive anyone mad. Baghdad’s highest temperature is 141°F and its lowest is 35°F, according to Rick Simmonds, of Queensbury. The sense of overwhelming loneliness as they walk back to their 12’ by 14’ sections in the trailers at night, the absolute nothingness of the desert around them, and the only 20 minutes of computer time they had to answer all the e-mails from the ones they care about.

Mr. Simmonds, a mail officer and First Sergeant, told me a bit about heroes. “A hero becomes a hero on accident. He does not go in with plans to be a hero. A hero is somebody who is at the wrong place at the right time. A hero is also somebody who gets up even if they are in a combat zone, and does their job with no grousing, no complaining. The medics, the pilots, they were heroes. They went in and really faced real danger in doing what they had to do.”

Mr. Simmonds was hailed, upon returning from a year in Iraq, as one of the heroes he just described, being applauded loudly and showered with tears and blown kisses. When he took leave the first two weeks of November 2004, the eight service people on the plane were treated with the utmost respect, being moved up to first class, being let off the plane first with no complaining by the other people on the flight, and being met by 20 friends and family at the gate. When other people found out what he had done, which was, “providing morale-giving mail and packages that really made a difference,” they hugged him, proclaiming their undying gratitude for getting their men and women their mail.

Mr. Simmonds also brings to light the fact that even in a dull, dry place, beauty can still grow, like the jasmine that was everywhere in Baghdad, where he was stationed. Perhaps this is a symbol for what can come of being over there for “years to come,” that maybe something good can come of this ugly war.

Bravery. Heroism. The men and women serving overseas, even if they are just carrying the mail to the real soldiers, truly embody these characteristics. They should be respected and honored. These people deserve a hero’s welcome when they return.