007 Memorial Day

About this video

Mike Ritland, a former Navy SEAL, reflects on Memorial Day and what it means to him personally and to the nation. He shares how his grandfathers’ World War II service inspired him to join the military, and recounts the profound loss he has experienced, including close friends killed in Benghazi whom he had introduced to each other. Ritland emphasizes that rather than feeling guilty or depressed about fallen service members, people should honor them by living fully and appreciating the opportunities their sacrifice has provided.

Key takeaways

• Ritland argues that Americans, especially younger generations, lack sufficient knowledge of the nation’s history and the sacrifices made by the military, which he views as problematic for the country’s future
• Ritland recounts introducing Glen Doherty and Ty Woods, who were both later killed in Benghazi, and describes struggling with survivor’s guilt about that connection and about being alive while better men have died
• Ritland encourages people to honor fallen service members not by mourning but by celebrating and taking full advantage of the opportunities their sacrifice has given us

Episode details: published May 27, 2018 · 9.3K views · 30:19 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Stories told by Mike Ritland’s podcast guests are the guests’ own accounts, attributed to them — not independently verified. Commentary is Ritland’s, presented as his analysis.

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