Lexi Back 

Staff Writer

Seasons change and leaves fall, but the heart of a soldier always remains the same.

November 11, Veterans Day, is the day to honor the men and women who keep this forever-changing world together.

Around GRC we see many faces, but what may not be visible to the naked eye is the uniform hanging in their closet.

Master Sergeant Lee, one of the instructors of the JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) program, knows all about what it takes to be a committed soldier and one of the honored heroes on this day.

People tend to follow the dreams they think may be the easiest lifestyle to follow. Sgt. Lee, however, along with other brave individuals, chose to break out of the average job society gives to become a soldier making this world a better place.

Master Sergeant Lee enlisted into the US Army after graduating high school, pursuing his dreams. Sargent Lee’s father, a Career Air Force member, led his son the right way.

“He inspired me to do whatever I thought would be best for me,” Lee says. Which is exactly what he did.

In August 1987, after graduating high school, Lee decided to enlist into the US Army. “I looked into all the branches,” he said, “and the Army was the best fit for what I wanted to do.”

Heroes never plan on inspiring the lives of others and changing the world one by one. They just do.

Sergeant Lee arrived in South Carolina for his first day of basic training in the blazing summer heat. “I was shocked to see a drill sergeant in full uniform, not sweating a bit,” he recalled, remembering himself as an overwrought cadet waiting for direction on the next command.

Only those with a real lion heart like the men and women honored on November 11 can break through the rough patches, including leaving home for basic training.

“My service in the Army forced me to grow up and be responsible without my parents being right there to help me,” Lee said. “The toughest part is the mental aspect of a change of lifestyle, but it teaches you that no matter the circumstances, you can do anything you put your mind to.”

Sergeant Lee got to carry on his inspiring journey by serving in other places for our freedom including West Germany, The Netherlands, Georgia, Egypt, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, then finally here in his home state Kentucky.

Across the world, heroes have given it their all for the love of their country and security of the citizens as well as a dream of peace for the world to one day experience.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Sergeant Lee’s son joined the Army after having insight on the heroic acts pursued by his father and grandfather in front of him.

The lessons you learn as you grow up may be the lessons you need to be wiser as the years continue flying on. The love of a family and the pact of a never forgotten brotherhood are the lessons you can’t get enough of.

Even when his service ended, Sergeant Lee pursued shining resiliency. He worked as a trainer at Fort Knox for two years, then came upon the passion to teach others what he has learned. That’s what brought him to teach JROTC here at GRC.

“My message to others that might be thinking of joining the military is to give it your all,” he says. “Go in with an open mind and positive attitude and you will be rewarded for your hard work.”

Veterans Day is the day to put aside the cruel in the world and to acknowledge the amazing heroes who deserve more recognition than any political topic ever deserved.

Veterans Day is the day to give thanks to any veteran you know or see out in the community and to live standing tall and proud because of the men and woman who make it possible each day.

“Veterans Day is very important to me,” says Lee. “Military service runs in my family and I cannot thank those that came before me enough. We live in this great country, and get to make the decisions we make, due to their sacrifices.”

Being a soldier is about the love and sacrifice you give for the lives of the people. The wars you face in service as your duty and the battles of your mind as you press on – doing the deed that saying “thank you” doesn’t even begin to cover.

Ensuring that our country can stand united as one, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the rest of the Smoke Signals staff, thank you to all veterans.

Never forget your worth in the home of the free because of the brave. Veterans Day is your day, and every day after that.