Storm-Rider,

The only thing I would add to your definition of “sacrifice” is that in this day and age, with an all-volunteer military, simply putting up your right had and swearing (among other important things) that you will give up your right to go where you want and do what you want, to wear what you want and look the way you want to, to speak your honest opinions, to serve under those who you may find inadequate for their tasks and to do so not under threat of unemployment but under threat of imprisonment — that is a tremendous sacrifice. It’s a huge sacrifice of personal freedom to protect the personal freedom of others. It is a noble and sacrificial act for everyone who serves, even if they do nothing other than “shovel s**t in Louisiana”.