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Many Thanks to All! by Anne Elizabeth

I am deeply honored to be a member of this a nation, a place where we willingly share and provide gratitude. This month we celebrated Thanksgiving and I must admit that it is one of my favorite holidays.  The unique spirit that is heralded throughout these United States as we stop our ordinary daily tasks to gather together and express our heartfelt messages of joy.  The time of sharing gratitude may be long or short, but together – as one people – we embrace this basic principle with our family, friends, community, and even more wonderfully strangers.  In my heart, this essence of kindness and morality is a precious time and worth relating to the military path for it makes me think of those who sacrifice for this nation.  Thus, when I talked to my husband about this month’s blog, my favorite retired Navy SEAL suggested I share the U.S. Navy SEAL Ethos.  This is an ethical belief, too, born out of courage, dedication, and a singular spirit — in the same way, we as a nation celebrate a cultural or spiritual oneness.

Here is the ethos, taken directly from the Naval Special Warfare Command Public Website (http://www.public.navy.mil/nsw/pages/EthosCreed.aspx):

In times of war or uncertainty there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our Nation’s call. A common man with uncommon desire to succeed. Forged by adversity, he stands alongside America’s finest special operations forces to serve his country, the American people, and protect their way of life. I am that man.

My Trident is a symbol of honor and heritage. Bestowed upon me by the heroes that have gone before, it embodies the trust of those I have sworn to protect. By wearing the Trident I accept the responsibility of my chosen profession and way of life. It is a privilege that I must earn every day.
 

My loyalty to Country and Team is beyond reproach. I humbly serve as a guardian to my fellow Americans always ready to defend those who are unable to defend themselves. I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions. I voluntarily accept the inherent hazards of my profession, placing the welfare and security of others before my own.

I serve with honor on and off the battlefield. The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of circumstance, sets me apart from other men. Uncompromising integrity is my standard. My character and honor are steadfast. My word is my bond.

We expect to lead and be led. In the absence of orders I will take charge, lead my teammates and accomplish the mission. I lead by example in all situations.

I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight.

We demand discipline. We expect innovation. The lives of my teammates and the success of our mission depend on me - my technical skill, tactical proficiency, and attention to detail. My training is never complete.

We train for war and fight to win. I stand ready to bring the full spectrum of combat power to bear in order to achieve my mission and the goals established by my country. The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required yet guided by the very principles that I serve to defend.

Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail.”
 

Every time I read these words, a lump of emotion forms in my throat.  The faces of men who have passed from this earth surface in my mind, those who are fighting today, and those that will fight in the future. I have to force myself not to let the tears fall.  It is such an extraordinary role to be a warrior.  I am in awe of our servicemen and women!  Their sacrifice is great and I hope they feel the love and respect we hold for them.  HOOYAH!  To ALL OF YOU!  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!  As we continue to celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving, may these rare individuals know how tremendously they are thought of, thanked, and appreciated.

What are you grateful for, or what do you think of the Navy SEAL Ethos?  What would your own personal creed be about?  Mine would begin with the following words:  I bring the best of myself to...

Comments

  1. I'm struck by how much of that ethos applies to parenting. It probably applies to being a spouse, too, but I don't know as much about that. And for all the SEAL romances I've read, I've never come across this in its entirety before, Anne Elizabeth, so thanks for putting it out there.

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  2. Grace, thank you for posting such a wonderful comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the Ethos. I agree it relates to many aspects of life: parenting, marriage, relationships, and more. Every part of the human experience is valuable - mental, physical, and emotional. Few people talk about values these days, but it is a tremendous motivation. Happy Holidays to you and yours! Hooyah & hugs! AE

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  3. What a wonderful post, Anne. It was both an honor and a privilege to meet a number of retired SEALs at your wedding. After reading the SEALs Ethos, I can honestly say that these men still embody the Ethos. It must be engrained so deeply that it becomes a part of these brave men, enabling them to perform their job to the fullest.

    Thank you for sharing it with us today.

    I'm grateful for my family and friends and the opportunity to continue to do what I love...write!

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  4. Aloha, Anne! Thank you for being a fabulous "cheerleader" to so many - military veterans, military families, romance readers, etc. Your positive attitude is a great reflection upon the military which you seek to support.

    I offer you a Hawaiian proverb:

    'Ike aku, 'ike mai, kokua aku kokua mai; pela iho la ka nohana 'ohana.

    Recognize others, be recognized, help others, be helped; such is a family relationship.

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  5. What an awesome post, Anne! I liked the part best that simply said: I will never quit.
    To know that someone with that vow in their heart is protecting my freedom...there are no words to describe that kind of passion and dedication.
    Happy Holidays to you and all our men and women who have made those vows!

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  6. That's awesome. Like Grace, I thought about parenting. I also saw in Time magazine there's a trend for more books featuring SEALS, firemen, smoke jumpers, etc. as romance heroes. It's nice to see these guys getting the respect and praise they deserve.

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  7. Love the Ethos and I have the greatest respect for SEALs--they're amazing men--all those who serve in our armed forces, and their families. They've all given so much and will have my undying gratitude.

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  8. I and very grateful for our service men and women, especially when I remember how many are far away from their families during the holidays.

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  9. my grateful respect to the Navy Seal, all they done was so wonderful

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  10. Hi, everyone!

    Thank you for the terrific comments. My apology for the delay in answering. We live in the mountains and had 70 mph winds that took out our signal yesterday afternoon and evening. Today, though, it is blue skies and gorgeous!

    Colleen - I agree it is engrained in them and that courage and kindness is worn with humbleness. Thanks for sharing what you are grateful for, too! Your grandson is adorable!!!

    Kim- My friend and sister cheerleader for the military, I appreciate the comment and adore the proverb. Thanks for sharing it! Hooyah!!!

    Carolyn - That's one of my favorite parts, too! The concept of quiting is not in their vocabulary. As writers, I don't think it is in ours either! :)

    Shana - I agree that it is terrific the SEALs are being recognized, though they are so humble in true life it isn't their style. They normally prefer to be in the background doing their magic.

    Robin - Thanks for the comment. I agree it takes a lot to be a family member of a SEAL, but it is worth it. Loving and honoring a member of the military is a very special role in life. My gratitude to all of you!

    Amanda - Me, too! Thanks for the shoutout for our troops!

    Eli - Thanks for the lovely comment!

    Happy holidays everyone! Safe journeys and much joy! Again, many thanks to you for the comments and celebration of our SEALs and military.
    Hooyah & hugs!

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  11. I don't think its a coincidence that we celebrate Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving in the same month. The military protects the freedom which fuels our nation.

    Navy Seals rock!

    Pam

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  12. "A common man with an uncommon desire to succeed." The Navy SEALs are hardly common. In fact, I sleep bettter at knowing that they are uncommon. Thank you to them for their service.

    Sue

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  13. A beautiful tribute to the extraordinary heroes that make us feel so secure and protected. Thank you so much for sharing the entire credo, I have only seen pieces of it in various books that I have read...and yes, it does bring a lump to my throat to read any part of it. My best to you and your family, happy holidays to all of you!

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  14. What a wonderful post. It reminds me of my dad, who was a decorated veteran of WWII. He volunteered and served selflessly. He's been gone four years now, and I miss him.

    I am so greatful for our military men and women and their family members for making huge sacrifices to protect the rest of us. Thanks for the reminder, Anne.

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