Chuck Williams: Raising a glass to those in uniform

On Wednesday, we pause to thank those who served and continue to serve our country, and we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Veterans Day is a somber and reflective time. And it should be.

In the past year, I have spent more time on Fort Benning than I did in the previous 25 years of living in the Chattahoochee Valley.

In recent months, I have met a lot of soldiers -- past and present.

As these people have come into my world, I am struck by their commitment to our country and the willingness to sacrifice for it.

The one thing that can't be lost in this reflection is how few of them there are.

That 1 percent of this nation's population protects the other 99 percent from our enemies -- both domestic and foreign -- is a staggering statistic.

And in that 1 percent are people who have made sacrifices in a way that is both inspiring and thought-provoking.

One of those people is Sgt. 1st Class Michael Schlitz, who was nearly killed in February 2007 by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad. He was burned beyond recognition.

Today, he has hooks for hands and is a functioning member of society, working with the Gary Sinise Foundation to help veterans.

More that 80 surgeries later, Sgt. 1st Class Schlitz is a testament to courage and perseverance.

When I wrote about Schlitz earlier this year, I incorrectly identified him as a first sergeant.

I got a text thanking me for the interview, then asking that I change his rank to sergeant first class.

That is what is important to the heroes among us.

They don't want anything they didn't earn.

Another thing that has struck me is the way those in our service remember their comrades who didn't come home.

There is not a week that goes by that I don't see a tribute or remembrance on my Facebook feed from one or more of the soldiers I have met in the last year.

Some of these remembrances are pointed and personal.

Recently one soldier talked about his fallen comrades and how he was remembering them, one by one, with a toast and a shot of Jack Daniels.

I saw that firsthand a month ago when Maj. Gen. Scott Miller offered such a toast to remember his fellow soldiers who had died in the Battle of Mogadishu, a battle 22 years ago in which Miller was the Delta Force commander on the ground.

Just watching that moment brought clarity to the sacrifice of those who live -- and die.

We should all raise a glass tomorrow to all of those who wear the uniform.

There is no way we can repay them for their service to our country.

Contact Chuck Williams, senior reporter, at chwilliams@ledger-enquirer.com.

This story was originally published November 9, 2015 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Chuck Williams: Raising a glass to those in uniform ."