8 Photos That Celebrate the Diversity of the Military Family

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U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Ernesto Lopez Jr., left, Air Force Airman Basic Jennifer Lopez-Falcon, Airman 1st Class Joanna Lopez, and Senior Airman Ernesto Lopez-Falcon pose for a family photo after Airman Jennifer Lopez-Falcon's basic military training graduation at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, May 10, 2019. Three of the Lopez family members serve concurrently in the 116th Air Control Wing, Georgia Air National Guard. U.S. Army photo/Nancy Goldberger

Politics seems to be dividing our country further and further. But in the midst of all the discord, perhaps it's time the nation takes a page from the military community and celebrates the difference and the diversity that makes us incredible.

When you take your oath, you pledge to defend your flag and her freedoms at all costs. You swear to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to obey orders. With these promises, you are agreeing to lay down your life, if necessary, for those certainly inalienable rights that our founding fathers so eloquently promised.

But there's another, unspoken part of that pledge that you take: never leave a brother (or sister) behind. And it doesn't matter what that buddy's belief systems look like, where they come from or who they love. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines put their viewpoints aside to protect each other.

And you should do the same.

If you're going to support the military and our military families, it's time you support all of us.

Here are eight photos representing our beautiful diversity. We come from different countries and different towns. Some of us come from grave poverty while others come from great wealth. We are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, agnostic and atheists. We are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning. We are men and women. We are Democrats, Republicans, independents and libertarians.

At the end of the day, we are all patriots. And we are so damn strong.

U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Ernesto Lopez Jr., left, Air Force Airman Basic Jennifer Lopez-Falcon, Airman 1st Class Joanna Lopez, and Senior Airman Ernesto Lopez-Falcon pose for a family photo after Airman Jennifer Lopez-Falcon's basic military training graduation at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, May 10, 2019. Three of the Lopez family members serve concurrently in the 116th Air Control Wing, Georgia Air National Guard. U.S. Army photo/Nancy Goldberger
Senior Airman Presilla Rosario from the Colorado Air National Guard’s 140th Maintenance Group, says goodbye to her husband Terrance Lucas before she departs from Buckley AFB, Colo., May 5, 2017. U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf
Stefanie Horvath smiles with her family after her promotion ceremony to brigadier general on July 9, 2019, in Rosemount, Minn. Horvath will be the Director of Joint Staff for the Minnesota National Guard. Minnesota National Guard photo/Sydney Mariette
Lt. Col. Lisa Chabot, a medical service corps officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, embraces a loved one, following a homecoming ceremony at the William "Bill" Reed Special Events Center, Fort Carson, Colorado, Aug. 17, 2019. U.S. Army photo/Pfc. Matthew Marsilia
Brig. Gen. Roy Macaraeg his wife Bene and daughter Chloe Anne pose for a photo Hawaii Governor David Ige and his wife Dawn after the promotion ceremony at Washington Place, Honolulu Hawaii, Oct 08, 2019. U.S. Air National Guard Photo/Andrew Jackson
Spc. Zachary Cross, a tank system maintainer, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment "Death Dealers", 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, reunites with his family during a homecoming ceremony inside the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group June 7 on Fort Bliss, Texas. U.S. Army photo/Alejandro Licea
Army Lt. Col. Dawud Agbere, a Muslim chaplain at the Pentagon, holds his daughter, 3-year-old Oumalipe Agbere, during an Iftar celebration at the Pentagon. Army News Service photo/Lisa Ferdinando

 

New Jersey Army National Guard Capt. Bethanie Schultz, 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion S3, stands for a portrait with her family after a promotion ceremony on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 19, 2019. U.S. Air National Guard photo/Matt Hecht

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