Mathias Scully, M25
I’m a first-generation American. My mom’s from Ethiopia; my dad’s from Ireland. I joined the Army out of high school, very spontaneously. I think it was a big shock for them—I can only imagine what they were thinking!
But it’s interesting having immigrant parents and being in the Army. It feels right, like it’s a good way to give back to the community that took my parents in, gave them opportunities to thrive, and gave our family so much.
I don’t have a deep or meaningful reason for joining the Army—I wanted to try something different, and I just took a leap. But I am very clear on my reason for staying: it’s because of the friendships I’ve made over the past eight years. I like the people I’ve served with, both close friends and others. There’s real camaraderie and a tight bond, and it’s the people who have made it a meaningful and rewarding experience for me.
As for Veterans Day, I see it as a day for us to come together as a community and as a nation and give a small token of appreciation to the veterans who have served, to remind them that we’re thankful for what they’ve done for us. They should know their deeds have not gone unnoticed.