Who Are Our Veterans?

Who are our veterans? On 11-11-11 we remember the men and women present and throughout our history that sacrificed for our liberty and security of our nation. From the undermanned Patriot Freedom Fighters, to the underappreciated Vietnam Veterans to our present soldiers serving we honor you. Who are the vets that we honor today? The truth is only you can share their story of who they are in remembrance or in gratitude. The Vets I honor today are my father and brother.

My father, Staff Sergeant, Jerry Koetitz served as an Air Operations Specialist during the Vietnam War stationed in Tennessee (where I was born) and Thailand. Today as a semi-retired minister and doting grandfather his gentle and affable spirit is a joy to be around. I am sure that raising five boys was his greatest challenge in life (we gave him plenty) and I have the war stories to prove it. I remember one hot summer day in Rhame, ND as a bored teen, I saw several five gallon buckets of paint sitting in the garage. So without asking I grabbed a brush and began painting the exterior of our house. Mid-way through I came to my senses and asked Dad if that was okay. Each of us have given him his battle scars like driving a station wagon full of screaming girls through a garage, or wrapping his mini-van around a tree, playing baseball in the house, setting bologna on fire on the kitchen floor, or bringing home a live turkey for Thanksgiving. I am surprised he is still with us.

My brother, 1st Lt. Jon-Mark Koetitz is currently serving in Afghanistan as a C-130 pilot in the Air National Guard. He is a devoted husband and engaging brother and friend. His magnetic personality draws others around him with warmth, joy and wit. I remember his basic training began in Kindergarten during the winter in N.D. I had him put on his snow suit with gloves and boots and I grabbed my BB Gun. Outside in the snow, I had my little brothers practice their running, ducking and rolling to evade enemy fire. Training went well as I heard the “puffs” of my BB’s zing off their snow suits as they darted from the house to the fence, till Jon-Mark let out a howl in pain. He was wounded by enemy fire as a BB hit his skin in between his mittens and his snow suit. Drill Sergeant Mom put an end to this basic training exercise. I know my little brother will sit by himself at the dinning room table in defiance at not eating his vegetables…even as an adult. He doesn’t like to search for leftovers in the fridge, but he enjoys surfing in So. Cal and snowboarding pristine mountain slopes.

Who are our honored veterans? They are brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, grandfathers, grandmothers with a story of life. They have battle scars, some from the engagement in war and some from us. They also celebrate victories and pride in their service to our nation, and in their shared lives with each one of us. Today, I honor two veterans who are close to me and I say “Thank you Dad, Thank you Jon-Mark” for your service and sacrifice to keep our nation strong and free and for your love and friendship. I am proud of you.