Since 1949, Armed Forces Day is celebrated every third Saturday in May in the United States. President Truman led the effort to have an established day to honor our military service men and women primarily, for those currently serving in the U.S. military.
This year I have deep feelings about the recent announcement that President Biden made that we are finally bringing home our troops from Afghanistan by September 11th. This will end the longest war in our countries history.
I wondered what the men and women who fought there think about it since they paid the heavy price. One local Marine Brandon Rumbaugh, now retired at age 32, lost both legs November 29th, 2010, after triggering an IED rushing in to save another Marine who suffered the same fate. Brandon is a hometown hero who came all the way back from contemplating taking his own life to finding love with Cassy, now his wife. Together, they have a daughter Remi with a baby on the way. I am so humbled and honored to have met Brandon, and I am in awe of what he’s accomplished including founding BRS Engineering. All the way back and then some. What he thinks about us leaving Afghanistan is more important than anyone else’s opinion.
Brandon is relived that we are leaving that country and thought it should have been done a lone while ago. Yet he is proud of his service and the men and women who also served there honorably of two decades. Brandon is special… you can hear his passion and attitude in the On-Air interview I conducted on News Radio KDKA.
Regardless of politics, I honor the men and women who serve and their families who also sacrifice greatly. I know thanks if not enough, we need to continue to serve them by supporting efforts to make sure that every one of them has whatever they need to heal, wounds that are seen and unseen.
