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What Service And Sacrifice Means

NPR
Published January 1, 2016 at 12:20 PM EST
Ryan Lemm, age four, the son of New York Police Department (NYPD) Detective and Air National Guard Sergeant Joseph Lemm, salutes while his father's casket is brought out of St. Patrick's Cathedral after his father's funeral on December 30, 2015 in New York City. Lemm was killed on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan on December 21. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Ryan Lemm, age four, the son of New York Police Department (NYPD) Detective and Air National Guard Sergeant Joseph Lemm, salutes while his father's casket is brought out of St. Patrick's Cathedral after his father's funeral on December 30, 2015 in New York City. Lemm was killed on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan on December 21. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The deaths of six U.S. airmen in Afghanistan on December 21 reminded us that Americans are still in harm’s way in Afghanistan. The fact that one of the people killed was a woman, Maj. Adriana Voderbruggen, also highlighted the debate that played out in 2015 over the issue of women in combat.

Here and Now producer Alex Ashlock focuses a lot of his attention on the military and veterans and he has these thoughts on the meaning of service and sacrifice.

Reporter

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