Civilian Coin Challenge
History of the Civilian Coin Challenge
Marcus Luttrell’s book "Lone Survivor" forever changed me… it was sobering and humbling, and conveyed a level of sacrifice and sadness that nearly crushed my heart and yet made that same heart so full of pride in our country and our military….the Navy SEALS in particular.
Marcus has a story that talks about being an American, about those who fight for our freedom and safety, and about the existence of true warriors possessing almost inhuman strength of body, mind, and spirit.
After reading his book, I wanted to thank Marcus for being a human representation of the good in this country, for proving that true warriors do still exist and are willing to risk everything for their country, for his unwavering support of his Commander in Chief, and his continued belief in God even through his darkest hours. His book made me understand that a true warrior is someone who does not know how to quit. What he does, along with all other military personnel, allows me to be free, have rights as a woman, and to stay in my country to do the work that I am best at – working with teens and young adults, preparing the next generation to carry on. My father served in the Navy yet I have known since I was young that I was not a good fit for the military. I respect the military, support our troops whole heartedly and support our country doing everything in its power to show appreciation, respect, gratitude and ultimately top-notch care of those who serve.
A while back I began my own tradition of extending my hand to military personnel whenever I see them and thanking them for what they do. I know military personnel can receive very high awards and recognition from their military family however I wished that there was some way a civilian, like me, could express their gratitude with more than a hand shake and a thank you. I learned that the military has a tradition of presenting a coin to personnel as a badge of honor. As a result I designed a coin to be presented to military personnel, representing American civilian recognition of honor, respect, and gratitude to U.S. Military for what they do for every American civilian. I then created a process whereby civilians can purchase the coins and present them to military personnel when they see them and from which the profits will go to improve medical care for wounded military personnel. The result…..the Civilian Coin Challenge.
Patricia Moore