Mark Wright’s Blog

Today is Veteran’s Day, the day slated to honor those who have served in the Armed Forces.  As a former service member it is nice to have a day in which to be honored.  To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know it was Veteran’s Day until I tried to contact my bank and realized it was closed in observance. 

I look back fondly at the time I spent in the Navy.  I got to see a lot of the world and made some lifelong friends.  While I was in the military during a war, I never experienced battle.  I am very proud of my experience.  I was the second member of my family to join the military.  My father spent 27 years in the Air Force as a pilot.  He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.  His and my experiences were very different.  I stayed in for 6 ½ years, he made a career out of it.  He actively participated in three wars, I watched one on CNN.  However, we had a bond by serving.

I am not one of those people that believe everyone should have to serve in the military.  Circumstances more than anything led to my decision to join and no it wasn’t because the judge either told me jail or the military.  Overall, I had a good experience but after some time, I decided that it wasn’t for me career wise.  A lot of my friends have made it a career.  Most of them have retired or are at the point where they are considering it.  People ask me if I regret my decision.  Not at all.  I am happy with the path that I have chosen and don’t look back at all. 

I am proud that my “adopted” son has chosen a career in the Marine Corps.  The decision was totally his.  I merely was honest and told him the good and bad and let him make his decision.  He is currently at boot camp in Parris Island.  I’m sure as I am writing this, a drill instructor is in his grill giving him some “instruction.” 

For everyone who is serving or has served, thank you.  Whether you were in combat or supporting those who were, what you do is important.