


Terry Cullen
Nov 25, 2022
Canada
Categories:
Military, Women, Role Model, Veterans
We owe a great debt of gratitude to the many, many military men and women who serve. Their service to their countries is much more than meets the eye. Oftentimes, they are called upon to respond to natural disasters nationally and internationally, or peacekeeping or humanitarian missions.
Take Private Sarah Mizzi, of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Government of Canada showcased Sarah’s story as part of a Remembrance Day (November 11) tribute to military veterans. Sarah joined the Armed Forces in 2019 at the age of 25. She has always had a love for the outdoors and adventure. “I had always wanted to travel and help my community. Whether it’s helping out abroad or domestically, that was something that I was always passionate about.”
After completing basic training, Sarah was assigned to the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (3PPCLI) in March, 2021. That spring, rapidly warming temperatures led to floods in the Yukon, a large, mostly wilderness territory in Canada’s far north. Out of 100 armed forces service people sent, she was the only female. She spent long hours for days on end filling sandbags and building walls to protect homes and towns from the rising waters. She conducted welfare checks on local residents and worked alongside indigenous organizations, such as Yukon First Nations Wildfire.
Sarah admits she is shy but this experience boosted her self-esteem. In her words, “I want to be a confident female and a good role model for other women who want to take on this career.” Sarah acknowledges women that came before her and blazed the trail to make it possible for her, and she wants to continue that tradition.
Use Sarah’s story to help you help your community. The first suggestion is to find ongoing ways to help the veterans in your community. Sadly, many suffer from various untreated mental and physical ailments resulting from their service, possibly impoverished, or even homeless. Winter is approaching in the northern hemisphere. Put together care packages with socks, gloves, scarves, hats, blankets, some snacks and a card thanking them for their service and meet your veterans wherever they may be (such as halls, parks, retirement homes, hospitals). Ask your national military offices if you can send packages to active duty military. Get your friends and family together and host a fundraiser to support any number of non-profit organizations providing services to veterans. Bring along a digital recording device and ask if a veteran would like to share their story, and ask your local newspapers and radio stations to air them. Think creatively and you will discover so many ways to help. And along the way, you will meet some of the most interesting people with strong characters and rich stories.
The second suggestion is to become a role model to the people in your life through the power of positive example. Develop an honor code that defines the person you have always imagined yourself to be and hold yourself accountable to it. Consider it as a family or friends’ project. Often, our actions influence people to become a better version of themselves more than words alone can ever do. There are few better means to honor the men and women who have sacrificed their lives in our defense. The famous Russian author, Leo Tolstoy once wrote, '”Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” What can you do today to change that?
Photo courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada.
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