A Purple Heart Award Ceremony

I was invited to attend the Purple Heart Ceremony for a National Guard Soldier in the Battalion that my VFW Post had adopted.
SPC Matthew Braddock lost his left leg & suffered severe injury to his right leg when his vehicle hit an artillery land mine in Iraq.
There are many medals we in the military have dreamt of owning, but this medal no one wants!
It is a tragic thing to lose a limb for the safety and chance of democracy in a distant country.
Matt has great strength and passion for life. You can see it in his eyes and I know that the support of his family, community and fellow Comrades has helped him with this.
There is nothing more humbling than a Purple Heart Award Ceremony. I hope our Country has very few of them from now on!
Peace to all!