Day 94

I almost feel uncomfortable referring to myself as a veteran, never having actually taken up arms for my country. I never bled to protect anyone's freedom or way of life. I never faced an enemy on the field of battle. I never deployed. I never even made it out of training.

I wanted to serve but at the time the Army hated overweight people almost as much as they hate homosexuals.

I was barely a couple of percentage points over my BMI allowance and my 1SGT threatened a chapter action.

I didn't have the heart to contest.

I was ashamed. I still am. I'm quite sure I will never ever be able to let it go.

It doesn't matter now that I finally found out why I gained the weight in the first place. It doesn't matter that my health has made a drastic turn for the better. It doesn't matter that I weigh less now than I did when I was honorably discharged (how's that for an oxymoron?).

None of it matters.

There's no honor in an involuntary discharge.

While the nation remembers those who served with their dignity intact, today I will remember those who wanted to serve but were ultimately found unfit by the callous remnant of the grand old guard and denied the God-given right to defend the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Here's to you, my involuntary veteran brethren!

Day 94: 6.125 miles in 100 minutes.