Normally on Veterans Day I reminisce and blog, often using the occasion to highlight family members who are veterans. I am extremely, and justifiably proud of my oldest son USMC Capt Justin Peterson, a Marine whose life was cut short in the sands of Iraq, my youngest son USMC Sgt Joshua Peterson, who was also deployed in Iraq at the time his brother was killed, and my oldest son-in-law USN Lt Brandon Geddes, who is still active and stationed in Norfolk.
However, today I want to highlight a rather quiet, unassuming veteran who calls San Diego home. Two years ago, while in Chula Vista presenting the patriotic program A SALUTE TO AMERICA!, I was privileged to meet and spend almost an hour with Joe Hutchins at the real estate office owned by Joe and his wife Pat.
Celebrating Freedom with a Hero
Joe spent most of his first career in the United States Navy as a SEAL. We sat on a sofa in the reception area of Hutchins Realty on Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach, as Joe, a retired Air Force friend of Joe’s, and I talked. I turned to this quiet tower of strength and said, “Joe, you know what’s different about your generation and today’s generation?” Not sure where I was going with that question, he simply said, “Go on.”
“You have deeply buried stories of years of special ops—stories which have never been uttered, and probably never will be. Today, guys go on a couple of missions and then write a book about it!” Joe smiled, his USAF brother-in-arms chuckled, and I was satisfied that Joe’s smile was speaking volumes.
While I’ve seen many of Hollywood’s action movies and read several books each year written from the arena of combat experience, somehow—even unintentionally—they tend to glamourize the blood, sweat, tears, agony, and pain. Conversely, many civilians seem to make every combat veteran a “victim” who suffers from PTSD.
Off all the possibilities that Veterans Day can bring to America, perhaps the one that should capture the imagination is this—let’s allow this annual day of remembrance remind us of the price that is being paid by approximately 1% of our nation’s citizens—men and women who are heroes merely because they stepped forward and serve or have served the other 99%.
BTW, do you pray? If so, why not spend some quiet time alone sometime during this Veterans Day, contemplating our veterans, especially the ones you know personally, and pray for them, thanking God for these men and women of courage, honor, and commitment, and asking God to minister His goodness to them as they provide our nation safety and freedom?
And Justin, Joshua, and Brandon—thank you for your service to our nation, and for making your father very proud of you!
Dale Peterson 
Excellent post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
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