Meet the Warriors Behind the Mission, The heart of Operation ROAM 2025 lies with six BIPOC veterans, each with a unique story—stories of resilience, service, and a deep connection to the land they now fight to reclaim. These veterans have served their country in combat. Now, they serve a different mission: To advocate. To inspire. To demand a world where the outdoors is safe and accessible for all.
Meet the Veterans and hear their stories of strength, determination, and the fight for freedom.
I have loved being outside for as long as I can remember. I was in the forest every chance I got as a child. I was a Cub Scout, then a Boy Scout where I earned the Eagle Scout Badge. I even worked as a Scout Camp Counselor in charge of the nature merit badges one summer. I learned to appreciate nature and how to share it with everyone from a young age. My Father took me camping and fishing and was an example of leadership and respect. He was a Vietnam Veteran and an Army Ranger and I knew that I wanted to be like him when I grew up.
My family has a storied history of outdoor leadership, both in Scouting and the Military. My Grandfather served in WWII in the Army Signal core, my Father served in Vietnam in the Army Infantry and my uncle served in Desert Storm as an Army Engineer. As it happens I joined the Army as an Infantryman and I served as a Combat Advisor in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. I enlisted in the Army when I was 23 after I lived in Australia for a few years and then moved to Idaho where I was an Art major in college. I tried ROTC but that was not enough of a challenge and I was not enjoying being a student so I walked into an Army Recruiters office and sealed my fate.
I enlisted in February 2001, for an 11B Arctic Infantry contract stationed at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska! My Dad took me fishing in Alaska with my Grandpa when I was 12 and Alaska is awesome so I thought that was an obvious choice. Needless to say, training in Alaska to be an Arctic Warrior was enough of a challenge! It was in Basic training at Ft. Benning where I learned to put the team before my self and value the mission over the individual. We all had the same uniform and were held to the same standard regardless of where we were born or who our family was. It showed me that despite our numerous differences it is possible to work together toward a common goal. This lesson carried over into the rest of my career in the Army and in every other aspect of my life. The experiences I had in the wilderness of Alaska taught me how to survive and fight in the most extreme conditions and that it’s only possible as a team and that we depend on each other. We weren’t black or white, we were all green.
I continued on after that first enlistment where I transitioned to the Army Reserve so I could go back to college. I used every penny of my GI Bill and Voc Rehab. I studied Recreational Leadership, Parks Protection and conservation, Graphic Design and most recently Industrial Design. I was in the Army Reserves until 2015 where I got out due to medical conditions. I was able to do and learn a lot in the Army. I was a Drill Sergeant and was a part of the last Drill Sergeant School class at Ft Benning in 2007. I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 as a Combat Advisor to the Afghanistan National (ANA) Army at the Kabul Military Training Center. I was in country for 7 months until I was shot in a gun fight by an ANA Soldier as a part of a Green on Blue attack in 2010. I was medically evacuated and spent 6 months at Walter Reed Army Medical center until I could go home and try to get back to life… not so easy a task.
Before I was deployed with my Reserve Unit I was able to fulfill another one of my goals, to become a Park Ranger. I had just finished my first season as a Law Enforcement Park Ranger at Dinosaur National Monument when I received the orders to Afghanistan. When it rains it pours I guess. Despite being severely wounded I was able to get back into good enough health to work a few more years as a Park Ranger. I worked at Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. As a Park Ranger I was able to play a direct part in conservation and protection of the most wild parts of our country. I was an EMT, wild land firefighter, Search and rescue technician, Law Enforcement Officer and Interpreter, sometimes all in one day. It was a great job and an invaluable experience but due to difficulties from my wounds sustained in Afghanistan I had to hang up my flat hat.
I have had many important titles and positions but perhaps the most important title I hold is that of Dad. I have two amazing daughters. They were very young when I was deployed and they had to follow me around to all the Army bases and National Parks. My youngest child was born in the Army Base Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY. I could see the toll this was taking on them and I went back to school to pursue another goal, to be an Industrial Designer. I work every day to be an example to my kids and show them that the world is an amazing place.
I am currently working as a self employed Industrial Designer specializing in custom soft goods for outdoor and military applications. I have a home studio in the foot hills of the Cascade Mountains in Western Oregon where I am once again in the forest surrounded by nature…my Wife is here too. I am inspired by my past experiences and the countless people that I have encountered along the way. I have been to many different countries and seen the extremes of those cultures. For better or worse we are all humans and we all deserve respect and love. As a Son, an Eagle Scout, a Soldier, a Law Enforcement Officer, an Artist, a Husband and a Father I am obligated to make the world I live in a better place. I swore Oaths and made promises to this end and they don’t expire.
Matt spent 4 years (96’-’00) in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard with the 28th Infantry Division. His most rewarding opportunity to serve during his time in grade was international training exercise. Baltic Challenge ‘98, held in Klaipeda, Lithuania, brought together troops from more than 13 different countries to collaborate.
Upon his honorable discharge, he moved to New York City to begin a career as a Junior High instrumental music teacher. Serving a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds. Frightening moment of keeping students safe during the morning of Sept 11th, as the school is less than a mile away from Ground Zero.
Matt’s connection with nature began riding matching BMX bikes with his older brother over the hills and trails of the Columbia River Basin in Richland, Washington. Along with learning to fish in the Columbia and Snake Rivers, many summers spent in an old blue family tent shaped a love for the outdoors. A guiding principle for his stance against bigotry and racism has been shaped from being an adoptee in a racially diverse family.
His connection to nature continues to this day, focusing his full-time work with Trailkeepers of Oregon as their Equity and Engagement Manager. He also serves as Board President of Warpaint Outdoors and continues to spend as much time in the woods as the admin life will allow. Whether that is working on trail crews operating saws and clearing trails or simply finding time to hike with his rescue pup and listen to the trees whisper the memories of family and friends, it’s where he feels free and in alignment. He believes that we all belong outdoors and continues to make sure he is part of making that happen.
Comming Soon!
My life’s journey has been deeply shaped by faith and family, both giving me a love for service, nature, and community. My father set the stage in serving first as a pastor, then Chaplain in the Air Force. My family consists of many members in the medical field, a botanist, and an art teacher. My Air Force career, serving in diverse locations like Korea, Germany, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and stateside, instilled in me a profound sense of duty. In Afghanistan, as Deputy Commander, my priority was the well-being and proper utilization of my Airmen embedded with the Army across 55 bases. This experience, though challenging, remains deeply impactful.
Upon separating from the military, I embarked on a transformative six-month sabbatical, traversing the US, Europe, and the remarkable island of Madagascar. Ten weeks spent in Madagascar were particularly impactful. Living in tents within the lush jungle, I had the privilege of contributing to tangible projects: building a school to empower a community, constructing fuel-efficient stoves to improve daily life, and participating in reforestation. The physical labor, the visible progress, and the strong bonds forged with the local people were deeply rewarding. And then there was the wildlife – a spectacle unlike anything I had ever witnessed. Insects dwarfing lizards, vibrant ecosystems teeming with life, and the breathtaking landscapes that served as the backdrop for the Dreamworks film “Madagascar,” where I even caught a glimpse of what could only be described as King Julian’s extended family (sadly, no Mort in sight!). The absence of light pollution revealed a celestial canvas of stars that underscored the vastness and beauty of our universe.
Returning from my travels with a renewed sense of purpose and peace, I transitioned into civilian life through the Culinary Institute of America, an institution historically supportive of veterans. This path ignited a passion for nourishing communities, leading me to garden-to-cafeteria projects in Portland, Oregon, connecting my desire to serve by providing healthy food. My journey further evolved through collaboration with the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition in 2019, where contributing to initiatives like the Back to the Roots conference deepened my understanding of food access, equity, and the historical context of racism, including Oregon’s troubling past.
The rise of division and hate in our nation has been deeply unsettling, prompting a renewed reflection on the oath I took to “defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Just as we strived to protect the fundamental rights of every individual under that oath, we must actively work to ensure that all people can explore the natural world freely and without fear. It is our responsibility to cherish these wild places, leaving only our footprints behind, and to cultivate a society where the inherent right to experience nature’s beauty is a reality for all. The principles of service and faith that guided my military career continue to be my compass, driving me to seek out ways to serve my community and uphold the values I believe in.
Lyndsey has served in both the Army and Air National Guard for a combined 17 years. She began her Army career in 2008, specializing in Human Intelligence (Interrogation) and graduated from a rigorous year-long course in Russian at The Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA in 2011. In 2017, she added Signals Intelligence/Cryptologic Linguist to her military skillset. In 2019, she transitioned to the 19th Special Forces Group in Utah and began her training as Special Operations Team-Alpa member. From there, she then completed several different courses in preparation for a deployment to Afghanistan. Upon returning home from Afghanistan in April 2020 (yup, amid a global pandemic); Lyndsey seized the opportunity to utilize her Russian Language talents for the remainder of her career and found another new home with the Utah Air National Guard. She is looking forward to retiring in the next four (or so. . .) years.
Born and raised in northern Utah, Lyndsey has always found a special connection and solace in the outdoors. She has often expressed to others that being at the top of a hike, waking up to an incredible view outside of her tent (or vehicle trunk) door, or riding a chairlift through snow-capped trees is her “church.” The times she has found the most peace throughout her military career have been when she was afforded even just a few moments to stand and quietly observe or listen to what nature was doing. A few of these experiences include (but are certainly not limited to): observing unique spiders and their feeding habits throughout South Korea, finding shared empathy with stray dogs in Afghanistan, witnessing a hawk quarrel with a family of blue birds in Texas, and she even has a tattoo dedicated to the barn swallows in Utah that built a nest and raised their young to flight on the side of the building she trained in prior to Afghanistan. Outside of one-on-one therapy, Lyndsey became “hooked” on fly-fishing to facilitate her battle with combat PTSD. She has an immense appreciation and respect for the fly-fishing community, the rivers and lakes, and of course – the incredible fish (regardless of size) that continuously provide their time, talents, power, and lack of judgement to her continued mental health progression.
“Nature does not hold place for judgement. It does not look at a person and think: “You can’t be a part of this because of the way you look, feel, sound, etc.” I have found a renewed passion and drive to facilitate opportunities for others to understand that this world holds so much more than the human-made limitations they may have endured. The loyalties and commitments to the oaths I have taken in the military have always held these same ideas and sentiments. Now, I look forward to continuing the fight – because we will always have to fight – to ensure that no human feels excluded due to their race, class, gender, orientation, or any other factor outside of their control. If a river does not prevent me from stepping into it because of how I look or who I love – why should any person be able to pluck a rock from that same river’s waters to cast someone away?”
I have loved being outside for as long as I can remember. I was in the forest every chance I got as a child. I was a Cub Scout, then a Boy Scout where I earned the Eagle Scout Badge. I even worked as a Scout Camp Counselor in charge of the nature merit badges one summer. I learned to appreciate nature and how to share it with everyone from a young age. My Father took me camping and fishing and was an example of leadership and respect. He was a Vietnam Veteran and an Army Ranger and I knew that I wanted to be like him when I grew up.
My family has a storied history of outdoor leadership, both in Scouting and the Military. My Grandfather served in WWII in the Army Signal core, my Father served in Vietnam in the Army Infantry and my uncle served in Desert Storm as an Army Engineer. As it happens I joined the Army as an Infantryman and I served as a Combat Advisor in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. I enlisted in the Army when I was 23 after I lived in Australia for a few years and then moved to Idaho where I was an Art major in college. I tried ROTC but that was not enough of a challenge and I was not enjoying being a student so I walked into an Army Recruiters office and sealed my fate.
I enlisted in February 2001, for an 11B Arctic Infantry contract stationed at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska! My Dad took me fishing in Alaska with my Grandpa when I was 12 and Alaska is awesome so I thought that was an obvious choice. Needless to say, training in Alaska to be an Arctic Warrior was enough of a challenge! It was in Basic training at Ft. Benning where I learned to put the team before my self and value the mission over the individual. We all had the same uniform and were held to the same standard regardless of where we were born or who our family was. It showed me that despite our numerous differences it is possible to work together toward a common goal. This lesson carried over into the rest of my career in the Army and in every other aspect of my life. The experiences I had in the wilderness of Alaska taught me how to survive and fight in the most extreme conditions and that it’s only possible as a team and that we depend on each other. We weren’t black or white, we were all green.
I continued on after that first enlistment where I transitioned to the Army Reserve so I could go back to college. I used every penny of my GI Bill and Voc Rehab. I studied Recreational Leadership, Parks Protection and conservation, Graphic Design and most recently Industrial Design. I was in the Army Reserves until 2015 where I got out due to medical conditions. I was able to do and learn a lot in the Army. I was a Drill Sergeant and was a part of the last Drill Sergeant School class at Ft Benning in 2007. I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 as a Combat Advisor to the Afghanistan National (ANA) Army at the Kabul Military Training Center. I was in country for 7 months until I was shot in a gun fight by an ANA Soldier as a part of a Green on Blue attack in 2010. I was medically evacuated and spent 6 months at Walter Reed Army Medical center until I could go home and try to get back to life… not so easy a task.
Before I was deployed with my Reserve Unit I was able to fulfill another one of my goals, to become a Park Ranger. I had just finished my first season as a Law Enforcement Park Ranger at Dinosaur National Monument when I received the orders to Afghanistan. When it rains it pours I guess. Despite being severely wounded I was able to get back into good enough health to work a few more years as a Park Ranger. I worked at Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. As a Park Ranger I was able to play a direct part in conservation and protection of the most wild parts of our country. I was an EMT, wild land firefighter, Search and rescue technician, Law Enforcement Officer and Interpreter, sometimes all in one day. It was a great job and an invaluable experience but due to difficulties from my wounds sustained in Afghanistan I had to hang up my flat hat.
I have had many important titles and positions but perhaps the most important title I hold is that of Dad. I have two amazing daughters. They were very young when I was deployed and they had to follow me around to all the Army bases and National Parks. My youngest child was born in the Army Base Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY. I could see the toll this was taking on them and I went back to school to pursue another goal, to be an Industrial Designer. I work every day to be an example to my kids and show them that the world is an amazing place.
I am currently working as a self employed Industrial Designer specializing in custom soft goods for outdoor and military applications. I have a home studio in the foot hills of the Cascade Mountains in Western Oregon where I am once again in the forest surrounded by nature…my Wife is here too. I am inspired by my past experiences and the countless people that I have encountered along the way. I have been to many different countries and seen the extremes of those cultures. For better or worse we are all humans and we all deserve respect and love. As a Son, an Eagle Scout, a Soldier, a Law Enforcement Officer, an Artist, a Husband and a Father I am obligated to make the world I live in a better place. I swore Oaths and made promises to this end and they don’t expire.
Matt spent 4 years (96’-’00) in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard with the 28th Infantry Division. His most rewarding opportunity to serve during his time in grade was international training exercise. Baltic Challenge ‘98, held in Klaipeda, Lithuania, brought together troops from more than 13 different countries to collaborate.
Upon his honorable discharge, he moved to New York City to begin a career as a Junior High instrumental music teacher. Serving a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds. Frightening moment of keeping students safe during the morning of Sept 11th, as the school is less than a mile away from Ground Zero.
Matt’s connection with nature began riding matching BMX bikes with his older brother over the hills and trails of the Columbia River Basin in Richland, Washington. Along with learning to fish in the Columbia and Snake Rivers, many summers spent in an old blue family tent shaped a love for the outdoors. A guiding principle for his stance against bigotry and racism has been shaped from being an adoptee in a racially diverse family.
His connection to nature continues to this day, focusing his full-time work with Trailkeepers of Oregon as their Equity and Engagement Manager. He also serves as Board President of Warpaint Outdoors and continues to spend as much time in the woods as the admin life will allow. Whether that is working on trail crews operating saws and clearing trails or simply finding time to hike with his rescue pup and listen to the trees whisper the memories of family and friends, it’s where he feels free and in alignment. He believes that we all belong outdoors and continues to make sure he is part of making that happen.
My name is Daniel Helton I’m a 32 year old African American Navy veteran from Dayton, Ohio. I served over 10 years as a FMF Corpsman providing medical care to all branches of the military. I began my career on 29 June 2011, when I was sent to boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon graduation from boot camp I was sent to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas where I’d be one of the first Corpsman to graduate from the new joint medical training program. Graduating middle of my class left me with the option to go to the fleet or get more training so I decided to get more training. January 2012 after the holidays, I was sent off to Field Medical Training Battalion West, Camp Pendleton, California. After graduation I then continued my Naval career moving north to Naval Air Base Lemoore, where I’d serve for two years.
There I served as base color guard, command color guard and assistant command fitness leader for Naval Hospital Lemoore as well as performing my duties as a basic Corpsman in both Lab and Physical Therapy. During my time in Lemoore I was graced with a safe 3 month deployment to The Kandahar Airfield NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit (MMU). This was a major trauma hospital located at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan. For the deployment I was Individually Augmented (AI) to the Army and was sent to For Benning which is now know as Fort Moore for my pre deployment work up. Upon returning from deployment my time at Lemoore was coming to an end and soon I would be transferred to Third Marine Logistics Group, Okinawa, Japan. There I would finally get a chance to fulfill my obligation as a Field Medical Technician. Attached to Ninth Engineer Support Battalion I was quickly and thoroughly educated on battalion aid station clinical and administrative operations.
After a few months I was finally assigned a company of my own, Third Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company. Within the company I served as Senior Company Corpsman, providing medical coverage for explosive ordnance disposal operations, maintaining health records and medical operational status. Eventually earning my Tactical Combat Casualty Care Instructor certification, I began to assist in the medical education portion of Humanitarian Mine Action Programs across Asia. During my time in Okinawa I was promoted to Third Class Petty Officer, obtained my Enlisted Fleet Marine Force warfare, served as Leading Petty Officer and Acting Command Fitness Leader. In 2016 I was reassigned to Naval Hospital Naples, Italy where I’d provide my medical expertise to the Emergency Department and Tactical Combat Casualty Care Instructor Cadre. While completing my basic assignments I served as Assistant Command Fitness Leader, Base Color Guard and played rugby for the NATO Lions Rugby Club. In 2017 tragedy struck my family and I was obligated to take Emergency Medical Leave of Absence from the Navy. After returning to the Navy I decided that I’d chose to become a Physical Therapy Technician in the Navy.
The Summer of 2018, I got my wish and was in the next Physical Therapy Technician Course, located on Joint Base Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas at The Medical Education and Training Center. Being the most Senior in the Course I was assigned the Class Lead for the Navy. Serving along side my colleagues representing the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard we not only completed our requirements for the school we also we also took lead of our perspective junior personnel. Upon graduating from Physical Therapy Technician school I received orders to my next assignment, Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Here I would serve my first assignment as a Physical Therapy Technician. Aside from my daily patient care I was able to perform as Base Color Guard, Base Emergency Medical Response Team Member, Base Morale Welfare and Recreation Fitness Instructor, Assistant Command Fitness Leader, Departmental Assistant Leading Petty Officer, and Hospital Security Team Leader.
I was soon to report to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, California after my service at Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There I provided extensive knowledge and experience in health and fitness as a Lead Physical Therapy Technician at 4 of 22 remote Physical Therapy Clinics. Unfortunately for me I was unable to obtain the necessary rank requirements in order for me to stay in the Navy. In the Fall of 2021 I would wear my uniform one last time while on Active Duty. I was Honerably Separated as Hospital Corpsman Third Class, Fleet Marine Force, Helton, Daniel A. United States Navy.
My life’s journey has been deeply shaped by faith and family, both giving me a love for service, nature, and community. My father set the stage in serving first as a pastor, then Chaplain in the Air Force. My family consists of many members in the medical field, a botanist, and an art teacher. My Air Force career, serving in diverse locations like Korea, Germany, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and stateside, instilled in me a profound sense of duty. In Afghanistan, as Deputy Commander, my priority was the well-being and proper utilization of my Airmen embedded with the Army across 55 bases. This experience, though challenging, remains deeply impactful.
Upon separating from the military, I embarked on a transformative six-month sabbatical, traversing the US, Europe, and the remarkable island of Madagascar. Ten weeks spent in Madagascar were particularly impactful. Living in tents within the lush jungle, I had the privilege of contributing to tangible projects: building a school to empower a community, constructing fuel-efficient stoves to improve daily life, and participating in reforestation. The physical labor, the visible progress, and the strong bonds forged with the local people were deeply rewarding. And then there was the wildlife – a spectacle unlike anything I had ever witnessed. Insects dwarfing lizards, vibrant ecosystems teeming with life, and the breathtaking landscapes that served as the backdrop for the Dreamworks film “Madagascar,” where I even caught a glimpse of what could only be described as King Julian’s extended family (sadly, no Mort in sight!). The absence of light pollution revealed a celestial canvas of stars that underscored the vastness and beauty of our universe.
Returning from my travels with a renewed sense of purpose and peace, I transitioned into civilian life through the Culinary Institute of America, an institution historically supportive of veterans. This path ignited a passion for nourishing communities, leading me to garden-to-cafeteria projects in Portland, Oregon, connecting my desire to serve by providing healthy food. My journey further evolved through collaboration with the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition in 2019, where contributing to initiatives like the Back to the Roots conference deepened my understanding of food access, equity, and the historical context of racism, including Oregon’s troubling past.
The rise of division and hate in our nation has been deeply unsettling, prompting a renewed reflection on the oath I took to “defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Just as we strived to protect the fundamental rights of every individual under that oath, we must actively work to ensure that all people can explore the natural world freely and without fear. It is our responsibility to cherish these wild places, leaving only our footprints behind, and to cultivate a society where the inherent right to experience nature’s beauty is a reality for all. The principles of service and faith that guided my military career continue to be my compass, driving me to seek out ways to serve my community and uphold the values I believe in.
Lyndsey has served in both the Army and Air National Guard for a combined 17 years. She began her Army career in 2008, specializing in Human Intelligence (Interrogation) and graduated from a rigorous year-long course in Russian at The Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA in 2011. In 2017, she added Signals Intelligence/Cryptologic Linguist to her military skillset. In 2019, she transitioned to the 19th Special Forces Group in Utah and began her training as Special Operations Team-Alpa member. From there, she then completed several different courses in preparation for a deployment to Afghanistan. Upon returning home from Afghanistan in April 2020 (yup, amid a global pandemic); Lyndsey seized the opportunity to utilize her Russian Language talents for the remainder of her career and found another new home with the Utah Air National Guard. She is looking forward to retiring in the next four (or so. . .) years.
Born and raised in northern Utah, Lyndsey has always found a special connection and solace in the outdoors. She has often expressed to others that being at the top of a hike, waking up to an incredible view outside of her tent (or vehicle trunk) door, or riding a chairlift through snow-capped trees is her “church.” The times she has found the most peace throughout her military career have been when she was afforded even just a few moments to stand and quietly observe or listen to what nature was doing. A few of these experiences include (but are certainly not limited to): observing unique spiders and their feeding habits throughout South Korea, finding shared empathy with stray dogs in Afghanistan, witnessing a hawk quarrel with a family of blue birds in Texas, and she even has a tattoo dedicated to the barn swallows in Utah that built a nest and raised their young to flight on the side of the building she trained in prior to Afghanistan. Outside of one-on-one therapy, Lyndsey became “hooked” on fly-fishing to facilitate her battle with combat PTSD. She has an immense appreciation and respect for the fly-fishing community, the rivers and lakes, and of course – the incredible fish (regardless of size) that continuously provide their time, talents, power, and lack of judgement to her continued mental health progression.
“Nature does not hold place for judgement. It does not look at a person and think: “You can’t be a part of this because of the way you look, feel, sound, etc.” I have found a renewed passion and drive to facilitate opportunities for others to understand that this world holds so much more than the human-made limitations they may have endured. The loyalties and commitments to the oaths I have taken in the military have always held these same ideas and sentiments. Now, I look forward to continuing the fight – because we will always have to fight – to ensure that no human feels excluded due to their race, class, gender, orientation, or any other factor outside of their control. If a river does not prevent me from stepping into it because of how I look or who I love – why should any person be able to pluck a rock from that same river’s waters to cast someone away?”
