“Honor The Sacrifice” Wants Veterans Not To Be Forgotten
On a day of remembrance, Col. Danny McKnight has a message.
"It shouldn’t take a war for us to appreciate the men and women that wear a uniform. Without them, we are not very safe and we need to remember that."
"Honoring the Sacrifice", a military charity started by Sgt. Andrew Smith, wants to do more than just remember, it wants to help.
"If someone is in athletics and they are now into wheelchair basketball, we want to be able to facilitate that, and help them to be able to do that. Or, if they need a ramp so they can see their in-laws, we would love to be able to step in and do that."
Smith lost both of his legs serving in Afghanistan in 2012. He doesn’t want to see the sacrifice of others forgotten.
"It is a far off place in Afghanistan. I think it is easy for people to just kind of take it for granted and not really realize the sacrifices people are making everyday to keep our way of life free."
McKnight also knows about sacrifice, commanding a group of Rangers serving in Somalia in 1993. The tragedy that followed as 16 soldiers lost their lives, was depicted in the movie, "Black Hawk Down", but the lessons he lives with are all to real. He makes sure those left behind are always with him.
"I was privileged to serve with some of the finest men I have ever, ever fought beside. Six of my Rangers. They are my kids and I will never ever forget them. I think about them everyday and every five years my wife and I have made a trip to visit the grave sites of my six Rangers, that will never change."
He wants to make sure the tradition of remembrance never changes as well
"I hope that doesn’t go away. I’m just afraid that sometimes it is a thing that will die too early. I want people remembering, not just on a special day, everyday appreciate our men and women."
"It shouldn’t take a war for us to appreciate the men and women that wear a uniform. Without them, we are not very safe and we need to remember that."
"Honoring the Sacrifice", a military charity started by Sgt. Andrew Smith, wants to do more than just remember, it wants to help.
"If someone is in athletics and they are now into wheelchair basketball, we want to be able to facilitate that, and help them to be able to do that. Or, if they need a ramp so they can see their in-laws, we would love to be able to step in and do that."
Smith lost both of his legs serving in Afghanistan in 2012. He doesn’t want to see the sacrifice of others forgotten.
"It is a far off place in Afghanistan. I think it is easy for people to just kind of take it for granted and not really realize the sacrifices people are making everyday to keep our way of life free."
McKnight also knows about sacrifice, commanding a group of Rangers serving in Somalia in 1993. The tragedy that followed as 16 soldiers lost their lives, was depicted in the movie, "Black Hawk Down", but the lessons he lives with are all to real. He makes sure those left behind are always with him.
"I was privileged to serve with some of the finest men I have ever, ever fought beside. Six of my Rangers. They are my kids and I will never ever forget them. I think about them everyday and every five years my wife and I have made a trip to visit the grave sites of my six Rangers, that will never change."
He wants to make sure the tradition of remembrance never changes as well
"I hope that doesn’t go away. I’m just afraid that sometimes it is a thing that will die too early. I want people remembering, not just on a special day, everyday appreciate our men and women."
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