By Ron Sakolsky

Published: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 8:18 p.m.
Updated: Saturday, March 2, 2013

Regardless of your sentiment concerning war, our country's youth are engaged throughout the world defending democracy, human rights and liberty.

Our military is a voluntary military and these young Americans know what they are getting into before they sign on the dotted line because they went in to sign it of their own accord. We, as Americans, take a lot for granted.

Our soldiers deserve to be recognized and acknowledged and when one is wounded we all pray and support their recovery. We have had many of our community hurt in the line of duty and even lost some of them.

Recently, I had one of my own, one of my students, wounded in Afghanistan. U.S Army Sgt. Shane Stipancic was injured as an Army Scout and flown to Germany and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

The community of Plum is praying for Shane's speedy recovery.

Shane was a quiet student and a wrestler at Plum in junior high and high school. He graduated and enlisted in the Army.

He became a medic assistant only to later decide to become a scout. He volunteered to be the one to go forward, before the troops, and secure the area.

Shane not only placed his life on the line for us as Americans but he even went further and stuck it out there for his buddies in his troop.

Our everyday lives would not be filled with the liberties, the love and the time to spend on not worrying about our safety if it were not for our armed forces. The next time you get a chance to give, give a little. The next time you get a chance to thank a soldier, thank a soldier. The next time you meet one, make sure that handshake is full of strength and pride because he or she deserves it.

God bless our troops and the USA. Stand proud as an American because we are represented with pride, dignity and respect throughout the world through our military forces of all branches.

Get well Sgt. Stipancic, and any other warrior recuperating with the American flag on their sleeve and in their heart.

Ron Sakolsky is an occasional columnist for the Plum Advance Leader.

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