So, after having served for 23 years, a veteran gets killed in his own country, because he stood up for his...

So, after having served for 23 years, a veteran gets killed in his own country, because he stood up for his country's Constitution - and his president says nothing.

Something to be proud of...

via Eric Hansen​

Originally shared by Rugger Ducky

He was taking the light rail home on Friday night. Traveling home from his city government job, where he had worked for 2 years. Before that, he had spent 23 years in the Army before finally retiring.  Certainly he was looking forward to spending the long weekend for Memorial Day with his wife and 4 kids. 3 teenage boys and 1 near teen girl must have had him excited to be able to really get some quality family time. Making up for all that lost time on deployments.

Almost certainly in the back of his mind were those that had been lost, those who had given all in service to our country. They are on the minds of every veteran every day, but in the days leading up to Memorial Day they grow louder. Demanding to be heard. There is also the inside wince every veteran instinctively has when a polite but uneducated civilian thanks us for our service on Memorial Day.

Suddenly there was a disturbance on the train car. A man suddenly started screaming at two very small teenage girls, one of whom was wearing a headscarf. The man was screaming racist epithets at them, threatening to harm them.

Surely Rick John Best thought of his own daughter on the train, subject to hostile treatment. Best did not hesitate. He and two other men immediately tried to intervene. To calm the man. The man however, was a known racist and white supremacist, arrested several times for violent acts.

The man continued screaming while he stabbed Best and the other two in the neck. Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche died from their injuries.

If two teen girls can’t be safe from abuse on a train car, we have failed as a nation to actually know what safety is. It is being able to walk around the streets of our hometowns without worrying about being assaulted or hurt for some small otherwise meaningless difference in ourselves. Never having to walk in fear.  

Thankfully we will always have heroes like Rick John Best to remind us that all citizens are worth defending and protecting. This Memorial Day let us remember and salute the brave service and heroism of Platoon SGT Best, and mourn the loss of a fine soldier, husband, and father. RIP SGT Best.