Sacrifices of Service

This is the final installment in our week-long salute to LGBT veterans by their heterosexual colleagues.

The following entry was sent to us by a straight service member who is currently serving in the U.S. Coast Guard who wishes to remain anonymous.

Veterans Day celebrates great American heroes who put service to country above all to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today. Their stories, replete with acts of honor, sacrifice and devotion to duty, represent that which makes our country great. Amongst the millions of Americans who have served are gay and lesbian soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and coastguardsmen. And yet, we have burdened them with an additional sacrifice – we have asked them to relinquish their personal integrity by keeping their sexual orientation a secret, to serve honorably, but deny themselves a most basic freedom – to be true to themselves and to be open with their fellow service members.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a travesty, personally for each of them, and collectively, for the country, and must be repealed. Our gay and lesbian veterans and active duty and reserve members are an integral component to the success of our Armed Forces. Let them serve with the dignity and honor they so ably deserve.

-Steve Ralls