Cadet Wlodarczyk

I am long overdue for a writeup and so enough of the writer's block!

I cannot remember when I first became so obsessed with learning about World War II. It may have been a day when I enjoyed a classic black and white war film with my father or perhaps my interest came about from the numerous video games I played growing up such as Medal of Honor, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, or Brothers in Arms.

Of course when I was younger, I never understood the purpose war. Back to those classic films, I recall watching The Longest Day for the first time, remembering how brilliant and awesome these men were for charging up these beach heads in Normandy. I failed to realize at the time how Hollywood made the event much more glorified and majestic.

On the other hand, when you see films like Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers, there is a whole other aspect to war which you never saw in the 50s and 60s. You see horrific events unfold, you see the hardship, chaos, and the sacrifices made. You see things that you would not wish for any human to endure.

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When I was a senior in high school, our history class was given a mandatory assignment in which we had to write an essay on the meaning of Memorial Day. The entire history department would then review our work and decide who prepared the best essay overall, thus earning the privilege to read it out loud to hundreds of people in my hometown during Memorial Day weekend.

When I was told in class that my essay was chosen, I had this overwhelming feeling, almost as if I knew I was going to be picked. And when that day came, when I had to stand in front of the village of Newark, I knew my emotions would consume me, not realizing how many people I would affect because of it.

I wish I could share the essay with everyone, but I do not think I ever saved it nor backed it up on a computer. It was nothing sophisticated; no fancy vocabulary, did not sound poetic, nothing special at all. But what was written down was true and pure and I do recall one of the lines:

"...and when men stormed the beaches of Normandy, many of them perished before setting foot upon the ground, let alone even fire a single shot back at their enemy."

It was after this line my eyes filled with tears that day. I did not think I could manage to carry fourth with the reading. I stumbled across the last few sentences, gasping for air, wiping my tears, praying that I could just be done with it all.

Yet it was through this moment when I realized just how grateful I was. I taught and learned myself the true meaning of Memorial Day and I never forgot the tears I placed in the eyes of my friends, family, classmates, and in people I never once said hello too.

When it was all said and done, a veteran approached the podium I stood at and announced to the crowd: "I am going to do something that I have never done in the 12 years of my service."

He turned facing me, stood at attention, and raised his hand to his eye brow. There I stood, everyone completely silent, and here was a military veteran saluting me. This image has never faded away and every time I recall upon this day, even now, my eyes still swell up.

I have always had this urge to join the military. I guess you could say its a calling, but nonetheless, I feel obligated to serve.

I am Cadet Third Class Wlodarczyk of the United States Air Force ROTC program at RIT.

I enrolled on a last minute decision shortly after my summer classes finished. I felt that this would be my one and only opportunity left to see if the military is something I do want to pursue after college.

I see it as a way to pay the respects of those who have fallen, who sacrificed their lives to enable the life I have to day. I see it as a chance to gain credible work experience in the space and missile defense sector and perhaps further enable me to pursue my ambitions in joining the Astronaut Corp.

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I have much more on my mind to write about, much more stories to elaborate on and share, but unfortunately I have to cut it here for now. I have 3 examinations tomorrow which I desperately need to prepare for. So although I would love to go further with this, I have to leave you abruptly.

At least I finally made an attempt to break this writing drought. So until then, I continue on my journey. See you out there!