“I learned something,” Elara continued. “The people who taught me resilience weren’t the Marines I pulled out of danger.
These weren’t the officers who trained me. These were the ones who made me feel small when I had nothing to defend myself with.”
The room received her words with a heavy sense of guilt.
Captain Rourke stepped forward. “Lieutenant Commander Whitmore conducted one of the most difficult rescue missions in recent Navy history.
During six hours of relentless shelling in Yemen, she flew back and forth into the kill zone to evacuate Marines trapped behind enemy lines.”
Another veteran at the bar saluted her. Others followed suit.
Elara returned the salute humbly. However, she hadn’t forgotten why she was here.
