I have had the distinct honor and privilege of working with some of the finest Civilians, Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, Marines and Coast Guardsmen throughout my career in the last twenty five years. Throughout my life many special people have crossed my path, staying for a brief moment in time only to move on. With each introduction I never really knew if I touched their soul, or had an impact on their lives. One never realizes what kind of an impact we have on the people we touch until they are gone. As time passes with each different path we take, we come to realize just how much they touched our hearts in that brief moment in time.
Recently two events occurred in my life, a miracle from a chance encounter and found farewell of a dear friend. Both of which are the reason why I write this letter to you.
Two years ago I was honored to meet a Soldier from the 101st Airborne, Captain Andres Marton, who was a patient at Walter Reed Hospital due to serious injuries to his leg and ankle. He was one of the wounded we brought to Rolling Thunder to speak to his fellow veterans via ESGR. He spoke about how a fellow soldier threw a hand grenade into his tent and put him in a wheelchair and killed seven of his fellow soldiers that day. Although he never showed his emotions to the crowd or anyone around him, I could see he was emotionally hurting not from his wounds, but because of what happened. With the help of others in Rolling Thunder we positioned him in front of the stage so he could enjoy the show and receive hugs and comments from those in the crowd. When I returned him to the van we spoke briefly, I gave him a hug and wished him well. We kept in touch via phone and I visited him a few times at the hospital. I quietly spoke to his doctors who said he would always need assistance of a cane or crutches upon his release. He could forget about riding a motorcycle in the future. I then lost track of him once he was released, but two months ago I received a phone call from this soldier asking if I remembered him. He told me what I said to him that day in the van stayed with him these last two years and he wanted to thank me for those inspiring words. Last weekend I witnessed a miracle when now, Major Andres Marton walked up to me, on his own without any assistance, and gave me a big hug, thanking me for what I had done for him. His brother Michael, his Mother and his Uncle did the same thing. Emotions were high as I realized the simple words of encouragement spoken from the heart challenged him to overcome the obstacles he had before him. What a gift I received that day in return to see him walk on his own. A moment I will never forget.
A few days later I had to say good-bye to an old friend to whom I had known for ten years. This was a man who was not only a highly decorated veteran and hero but my mentor and a dear friend. As I stood in the church listening to celebrities and his fellow veterans talking about Colonel David Hackworth, I realized he never really knew how he touched my soul and how I felt about him. How he encouraged and inspired me to write, mentored me and who was my voice when I could not speak. The country and the world might have lost a magnificent military mind, but I lost a friend.
With the passing of a dear friend whom I never thanked for coming into my life, a Soldier who went out of his way to thank me for coming into his life, I decided to let those who touched my heart know that they had an impact on my life.
No matter who you meet in life, or what you say to that person, remember in that single moment, you have the opporunity to make a difference in someone else's life. When you get the rewards of knowing you had in that special moment in time, be very grateful.
