Thank you for your service.

There are few moments in life where what you stand for is relegated to what you stand against. At least I hope there are.

I marched my men 2 miles and waited four and a half hours to see our Vice President speak the other day. Sure, there were more important matters at hand 10 days prior to our deployment, but the seats needed to be filled for a camera or two, so my morning was occupied. Behind a bomb and sniper-proof metal fort I think I once made out of pillows when I was 8, Vice President Cheney came to Fort Hood to remind us of our cause.

He spoke for twenty minutes, which wasn't important. I don't know what length would've been appropriate. What was tough to take is that though the speech was meant for the newly returned Cav Troopers of the 1st Cavalry Division, it seemed to have come out of a can; a can from 2003. Addressing the very men who just gave 15 months of their life and sometimes their own lives to his cause, you wouldn't have known from the speech he knew they had even been there. I'm not trying to make a political statement regarding this matter. Politics are trivial. I just would've liked to know that the one leader responsible would have empathized with the specifics of the life and loss of these men. I'll find my inspiration elsewhere.

So as I watched this man from 20 feet away, I stood unmoving and mixed emotionally. A battle took place in my mind. The details aren't blogworthy. Remember, politics are trivial. Suffice to say, my professionalism won out. Sort of.

After his speech, the Vice President worked the front row for handshakes. A decision presented itself. I could take one step forward and shake the man's hand or I could stand in place and watch him pass by. Unable to say I passed up the chance, I stepped forward.

Silently grasping Soldiers' hands in rhythmic side-stepping fashion, Dick Cheney approached. Many words bubbled to my mouth and I asked myself which would come out, truly not knowing the answer. Emotions from past and present contorted my face in that precise moment. I swallowed them all.

Without eye contact, Dick Cheney offered his right hand in my general direction. Unsatisfied, I took his hand and gave him a very firm one-pump. As soon as contact was made, I molded all my feelings and words and put them into action. While still holding his hand, I winked at the Vice President.

Focused only on hands, Dick Cheney was, I believe, startled. As soon as I winked, Dick looked at me not once, but twice in double-take fashion. Hands still locked, Dick Cheney took the opportunity to speak to me.

"Thank you for your service."

His hand felt like a warm, soft fish.