JOHN,

When I decided to enlist, I did so for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, I believed that this would be an opportunity like no other to serve my country. I enlisted after graduate school and a lot of people told me they thought I'd be the smartest guy in basic training. Man they couldn’t have been more wrong. Whether it was land navigation, weapons qualification, ruck marching - the list goes on and on– I was much closer to the worst in the class than the best. Now, don’t get me wrong, I got better over time. But wow, did I get the opportunity to train with and serve alongside some of the most talented and amazing people I will ever have the chance to meet.

The great human beings of the United States Military have given me so much more and taught me so much more than I could ever return.

But even beyond that, the military also showed me and so many others what our true potential is as a nation. It was and remains an institution where values of selflessness, loyalty, compassion and respect for the constituent are built into its DNA, and define everything it does. We could use so much more of that in our other institutions, and most definitely in our politics.

So as you all begin your busy fall season, with school, events and pumpkin picking right around the corner… let’s never forget that there are brave men and women in uniform in so many countries abroad who are fighting for and defending our freedoms every day. God bless them and God Bless America.

In service,

Max Rose