Surrounded by the sounds of bullets whizzing past and bouncing off the walls, and seeing them become imbedded into a wall. The burning smell of gunfire is so potent that it's all one can smell.
Surrounded by enemy gunfire, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor and his team were in a room trying to wait out the insurgents. However, an insurgent threw a grenade into the room and with a dull thud it bounced off his chest. It was then Monsoor had a choice to make, did he save himself or his team? He made his choice: save the team.
Yelling, "grenade," he flung himself onto the grenade and absorbed the impact with his body, sacrificing his life for the lives of his team. Monsoor is not the only military veteran to have to make that choice, and he will not be the last either. Throughout history many brave men and women have made sacrifices to serve in the military.
In Poway, California, GEICO hosted a breakfast for all of the veteran's employed with the company, to thank them for their military service. Capt. Stephen D. Barnett, the commanding officer of Naval Base Coronado was the guest speaker at the event.
He spoke about what it meant to him to be a veteran and the sacrifices that are made by men and women when they choose to serve in the military.
"A veteran is someone who at one point in their life wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including their life," said Barnett.
He went on to talk about three veterans that made an impact on him as a person, a Sailor and a leader and the sacrifices they made in service to our nation.
"I liked putting together the Veterans Day breakfast for our employees who were in the military," said Tom Kurtz, the event coordinator at GEICO. "Seeing the looks on their faces during the breakfast meant a lot. Just knowing it means a lot to them, makes everything worth it."
Kurtz is not a military veteran himself, but has a deep appreciation for all those who have served this country and is glad the company annually puts on a breakfast for the veterans.
"I can't begin to imagine what veterans went through as I wasn't in the military myself," said Kurtz. "This breakfast was our way of telling them thank you for your service and that we appreciate everything they have done."
Barnett's speech was met with a standing ovation from the room full of military veterans, and many of them thank Barnett for his time. A few of the veterans told Barnett that his speech was one of the most inspiring speeches they have heard.
"I look forward to this breakfast every year," said Ranika Spry, a former petty officer 3rd class who served in the Navy for four years. "It's fantastic to be appreciated for the time I spent in the military. The food is always great and the guest speaker is always good as well."
Many veterans who attended the breakfast expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the recognition of their military service, and spoke about how it feels to be a veteran on Veterans Day.
"Veterans Day is a great day," said Spry. "It's nice to be thanked for my service whenever I go somewhere and they realize I'm a veteran. It is even better that where I work, GEICO, takes the time to appreciate my military service. It makes me feel like a part of a team again."
Veterans Day is a day to remember the military service members, such as Monsoor, who gave up his own life in service to the country. While the name and definition of Veterans Day has changed over the years, the basic history and reasoning behind why the United States made it a national holiday remains the same. It is to recognize and appreciate anyone who has ever fought for and served their country.
Whether it's celebrated with a parade, free food at local restaurants, or recognition at your place of employment, a thanks given and received on Veterans Day is a reminder of the cost of service of those who have served before or continue to serve today.
For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element, visit www.navy.mil/.
