I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. — The Two Towers

My Take – I have to admit, I’m a gadget and gear geek.  And yeah, one of the nice things about going out to Fort Knox is that I get to see machine guns, explosions, and helicopters every few weeks.

But it’s not the hardware and fireworks show that draws me back.  It’s the young men and women who use the training to have a better chance to do their mission and come home safely that gets me out of my nice, climate-controlled bubble to either swelter or freeze in a quest for bruises.  Standing behind those brave souls is the ideal of my country, an ideal that many have either forgotten or never learned.  I know what our nation demands of these people, and what we get in return for their hard work and sacrifice, and that’s what gets me out there.