One Inspiring Veteran!

We were wondering what we would do for Veterans Day this year...we have gone to the little high school in East Texas for so many years, so we just did not know if anyone could top their efforts to honor the Veterans.  They are really awesome!

However, our local library came through for us and we enjoyed (a smaller scale) version of what we have grown to love.  I think what we love most about these gatherings is the time we spend talking to the veterans about their experiences.  I love the living history aspect of first hand information...not filtered down and put into textbooks....but real history.

Today we had the privilege to hear the story of a very courageous and inspirational man.  His name is Ivan Sears and he is a corporal in the US Marines.  Here, in his own words, we learned about something that could bring the best of us to our breaking point:

"I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, serving my country. While on patrol, I stepped on an IED [improvised explosive device].

“All my boys kept me calm, patched me up and made sure I stayed alive,” Sears said.  “They’re the reason I’m here today.”

He told us how he was thrown into the air 15-20 feet with his legs blown from his torso.  He landed in a crater and was then pulled out of the area and into a helicopter.  He remembers it all, including being given a shot in the chest to keep his heart pumping.

Brendan sharing our Veterans book

He would go from one hospital to the next until arriving back in San Antonio close to family and friends.  He did not give up throughout the experience.  He constantly pushed himself and overcame each hurdle placed before him with amazing progress above and beyond what doctors expected.

He now works for the military in a new capacity...he is a liaison for families who need assistance through the Wounded Warrior program.  He told us that he is happy to help families just as his family was provided for during the early months of his injuries.  He can now give back by providing for the needs of these families.

However, he does not stop there.  He is also a world class athlete....competing in the Paralympics in 2013 and winning a gold and silver in track events.  He continues to improve his abilities and competes at international events.

Let me tell you...this young man was before us today giving his story with a huge smile on his face.  He allowed the audience to ask him questions and told us that he goes in front of groups all the time (young and old) to share this story.  We could ask him anything.  He even joked about how his prosthetic legs made him taller.  He was amazing...and as he told us...he is still the man he was before the bomb.  I would say that he is even stronger because he knows what he can handle.  He has been through the ringer and came out on top!

He also has a lovely family....a wife and little one year-old boy.  We had the joy of speaking with them after the program and also sitting with them at the reception.  I am so glad our family had the opportunity to meet Cpl Sears and his family.  They are a blessing and an inspiration. You can read more about him in an article that written about him on a Marine blog site.

One other note I wanted to share about the event today.  There was a quilt named Texas Heroes on display today.  It honored all the fallen military from the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.  I was surprised to see our dear friends SGT Chris Everett and Captain Sean Sims.

God bless our Veterans!  We love you all so much!

Henry took this photo outside of the library today.