Stories of Service
They protect and save us.
We admire them and aspire to be like them. In uniform, in Our Communities, in every branch of the military, Our Heroes give their all —and sometimes the ultimate sacrifice.
These are their stories. On the eleventh of every month, we celebrate these selfless men and women with profiles of their service. Reflecting on their accomplishments and respecting each challenge overcome. Take note. Take pride. Please join us in honoring them here.
Celebrating 100 Years of Bethesda FD
During its 100 years of service, the Bethesda Fire Department has been an organization the residents of Bethesda and Montgomery County Maryland could count on through growth and change. “We carry on the traditions and experience and the service that had been provided by everyone who is in those portraits and pictures behind us. They laid the foundation for the organization and we’re continuing to carry that torch on 100 years later. We’re hoping that the legacy that we’re setting today in 2026 contributes to the well being and history of the organization. We’d love to see this organization continue another 100 years,” said Fire Chief Dan Blanfeld.
“Serving Something Greater”
There was a sense of duty to his fellow human beings. He is remembered for his dedication and a life of service. On his final run rescuing a stranded motorist, a tragic accident killed them...
“It’s About Time”
He was a gunner providing cover for medivac transports. His squadron was last to leave Vietnam. “You functioned as a team and you survived as a team,” he remembers. Yet when they returned to their...
Football Was His Way Out
“He was a hero, a protector, a Fayetteville son, and one who truly cared about his community.” NFL Head Coach Bill Belichick talks of his father’s humble beginnings, from the Depression and living in a...
A Wall Of Heroes
“This job can be life or death,” says veteran Firefighter John McMahon of Fort Myers, FL. “The people you work with are family, all working together to protect families and community. It’s an honor.”
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Ask Us Their Name
“His name is Sgt Thomas J. IV,” his mom says proudly. After losing him to an attack in Afghanistan, Leslie Butler became a Gold Star Mom. “Ask us who we are and we’ll tell you...
DUTY. HONOR. COUNTRY.
“Over the years, those words have been a beacon,” says Retired Colonel Gary Richard Steele. “No matter what lays before us, everything we do revolves around them.”
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Speaking Up To Save Lives
“If just one person sees this video, if just one person will reach out to someone for help, if one person will say something and it saves their life, it’s worth it.”
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The Nation Comes Together
16 years after 9/11, Rex Strickland of the Chantilly, VA Fire Department admires “the same level of selfless service” we all shared then as he does today in Texas, Florida and beyond. “I see everything...
He Gave All. For All Of Us.
“He was a hero, a protector, a Fayetteville son, and one who truly cared about his community.” Today there is a park in his honor plus annual tributes and candlelight vigils. Yet, there remains a...
Heroism – Defined
Two Soldiers were killed instantly. Four others were severely wounded. With shrapnel torn through his spleen, liver and left lung, Pereira struggled to breathe. Yet with little regard to his own safety or care, he...
The Definition of Service
“Being loyal to the country and finding something worthwhile to do.” That’s how retired Vice Admiral Joseph Mulloy defines it. Which is what his family has been doing since 1908, and still counting. Through every...
Serving Gold Star Families, Just Like Hers.
EMT. Paramedic. Nurse. Mom. Giving back to the community is simply what Suzanne Scheafer does. After the loss of a son in service, her efforts to help others took on a new meaning. “I get...
Serving Is Believing.
K. Madison Carter has always believed in doing his part to protect and serve. When asked to become an active duty, U.S. Naval Chaplain, his answer was clear: “I had no choice but to say...
We Can Do It.
Nearly 19 million women in the wartime workforce stepped forward during WWII to make a difference, producing munitions and supplies. Wilma Foster was just 16, and never hesitated to serve her country. Hear her riveting...
Resilience, Grace and Grit
“After two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Marjorie K. Eastman wrote a compelling book about “The Frontline Generation” who served with her. “The leadership lessons learned in combat apply at home too,” she says. “Take...