A Legacy of Service: Honor, Courage, and Commitment
From a family of patriots to a life of dedication, this Navy veteran continues to serve her community.
Most kids who grow up in a military family, like I did, usually sign up for the military. When I graduated from high school, I looked to the military as a way to get the GI Bill to pay for my college and a place to start my adult life. Every generation of my family before me had worn a uniform, defending the freedoms we hold dear. My family’s history runs deep in this country, stretching back to my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and even to a great-aunt who served in World War I. With that legacy in my blood, it seemed like a natural step for me.
In 1992, I enlisted in the United States Navy, carrying on the values my family instilled in me. Over the next four years, I served with honor and dedication, earning distinctions such as the Naval Ribbon w/Battle Efficiency Competition, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal, among others. I also had the unique experience of becoming a Shellback, crossing the equator and participating in the time-honored ceremony that marks the occasion for sailors.
The Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment became a part of my character, shaping not only my time in service but the rest of my life. Those lessons continue to guide me today in everything I do— in my career, my community involvement, and as a mother.
Now, I spend my time giving back by volunteering within the lacrosse community, where both of my children play. Volunteering in the lacrosse community and being able to be a part of what gives my children joy feels amazing.
For young people considering enlisting, my advice is simple but important: be ready for the commitment. The military isn’t just a job—it’s a transformation. You will become a part of something bigger than yourself, one of the threads in the fabric that holds this country together. And while you may not be the same person coming out as you were going in, you will emerge with a strength and purpose that will carry you for the rest of your life.