Today, I wanted to share directly, without much of my own words, a story written about one of the service members, Major Adrianna Vorderbruggen, who was recently killed in Afghanistan.  Her story intertwines cultural issues of the growing number of women serving in the military, our society’s changing attitudes towards same sex marriage, and once again, a small reminder of the separation that exists between the military and non-military members of society.  The service members we have lost (and unfortunately will lose in the future) represent significant losses for their respective military communities.  It is more important to remind ourselves how their deaths alter the future of their families and we must understand how our communities can support these loved ones in their time of need.  Her family thankfully will have access to various VA benefits because Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed.  If Major Vorderbruggen had died prior to DADT being repealed, her wife and son would not have access to these same benefits.

Please keep Major Adrianna Vorderbruggen in mind when you think of who makes a ‘warrior’ and how that person should be remembered.