The media has been awash with “where were you” stories in the run-up to the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.  Likewise, many military stories have come out from servicemembers recounting where they were or why they joined.  Many were barely out of gradeschool on that day 10 years ago.

Repeated, too, have been the stories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the wars since that day.

Senior Airman Grovert Fuentes-Contreras, an Air Force combat photographer, recounts his story of sitting in his seventh grade class, looking out the window and watching the second plane hit the World Trade Center twin towers.

In citing the reasons for his own service, he recounts that of US Army SGT Gorra:

On Feb. 21, 2010…U.S. Army Sgt. Marcos Antonio Gorra died in the line of combat. He was a hometown friend, who died on this same soil I stand on today. He died for freedom and for those towers.

Why did Airman Fuentes-Contreras join?

Many ask me my reason for joining and I say, “My biggest reason is because of 9/11. It is a day that I will never forget.”

They served for “freedom,” “those towers,” and “9/11.”  Both of those servicemembers were moved by something outside of themselves.

They chose to serve, and sacrifice, for something higher than themselves.

Despite some objections by atheists, that is one kind of “spiritual” service upon which the US military depends.