A message: Medal of Honor recipient shared spirit of America

If you did not get to hear any of the interviews this morning with the newest recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, they are worth watching.

Clinton Romesha was one of a group of servicemen who were pinned down by enemy fighters in an outpost in  Afghanistan.

The now retired Army staff sergeant not only led his team after being injured in the attack and in the face of almost insurmountable odds, he did something else extraordinary, too.

He made sure that every one of the eight  service members who died during the attack made it home. It is to them that he dedicated his medal this week.

There are many reasons to admire Romesha.

He saved lives. He showed courage under the most extreme of situations.

But what was equally as inspiring was what he said when he was asked to describe the last push on that fateful day.

He reminded the listeners that his team was a group of Americans -- and that Americans do not quit, they do not surrender and they do not go down without a fight.

And that was something, he said, that the enemy perhaps did not count on.

There are many heroes in our American military -- men and women of just such courage and honor.

Today we got a chance to recognize one of them.

And he reminded us of the many who are still out there fighting with the same strength, honor and dignity.

We should be proud of them all -- and honor the principles for which they fight.

That's our assignment.

Published in Editorials on February 14, 2013 1:25 PM