Capt. Mark Kelly op/ed for Veterans Day

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Capt. Mark Kelly served 25 years in the U.S. Navy and retired in October. During his last 15 years, he was assigned to NASA and made four trips into space. He and U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords have been married for four years. Today on Veterans Day he pens this op/ed in the Arizona Republic. Kelly: Let's unite for greater good on Veterans Day:

Today we honor those who serve. We thank the brave service members who fight for the freedoms and principles we value as a nation. We thank their families for the sacrifices they make and the support they provide.

As a Navy pilot flying combat missions in the Persian Gulf War, I learned a lot from the great men and women who served alongside me. They showed me the meaning of courage and what it means to serve your country.

My comrades in the U.S. Navy exemplified President John Adams' famous words, "If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind, whom should we serve?"

Those words resonate with both me and my wife, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — known more affectionately as Gabby. We believe that service to a purpose greater than the individual is essential to what it means to be American.

As a nation, we strive to achieve more together than we could on our own — it's fundamental to how we succeed.

During these uncertain times, it may seem impossible to find common purpose. It may seem difficult to unite for an objective greater than ourselves. That simply isn't true, especially when it comes to our service members and veterans.

For years, I've watched my wife, Gabby, work with her colleagues — from both sides of the aisle — to give a voice to her constituents, especially those who serve in our armed forces. I've watched her fight to give our service members the tools they need overseas and to provide them the benefits they have earned when they come home.

Her hometown, Tucson, boasts the ninth-largest population of veterans in the country. Her district is also home to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the 162nd Air National Guard Fighter Wing and Fort Huachuca.

Gabby knows this, and she has never let partisan bickering or a minor disagreement get in the way of providing for the veterans and service members she represents.

She hired a strong constituent-services team to assist our veterans in navigating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and in obtaining the support our country promised them.

She pulls from the expertise of her own Veterans Advisory Council to develop effective bipartisan policy that strengthens those who fight for our nation.

The members of her Veterans Advisory Council have long shown her what it means to work for a purpose greater than the individual. This year, their example is more important than ever as she recovers from a gunshot wound sustained while serving her constituents.

One of her advisers is Brian Kolfage, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a triple amputee. He attends the University of Arizona architecture program while also providing key insight for how to improve the lives of veterans. Not only has he overcome great challenges, he fights for others.

Matt Randle, a UA graduate and one of six UA veteran-scholars to be awarded a prestigious Pat Tillman scholarship, is also on her advisory council. He led UA's chapter of the nationally recognized Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran program program.

Designed to support and counsel returning Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom service members, this program has reached dozens of young vets suffering from traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and many other issues.

Veterans like Kolfage and Randle show us that we can overcome obstacles and achieve something more than ourselves. As Gabby works through her rigorous recovery, she looks to them for inspiration. She works very hard every day knowing that others have struggled through tough times before achieving something great.

Standing up for our service members is important to all of us. Gabby and I believe this, and today we ask you to join us in thanking the men and woman who have put their country first and fought for a purpose greater than themselves.

To our service members, veterans and the families that stand behind them, Gabby and I salute you.