Capt Hayden Collins

My family’s respect for the Constitution, and the willingness to defend it with our lives and the liberties it defines, goes back through the generations, as far as the Revolutionary War.

My cousin Austin Collins, who served on the U.S.S. Arizona, was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The American Legion Post in my hometown of Sebree, Kentucky, is named for him and is a national landmark.  My father and my uncles William and Philip also served in WW II.

In my generation, my older brother Tommy served in Vietnam, and when my turn came, my Army service included combat duty in the Desert Storm and Desert Shield missions, as well as providing support for deployed soldiers and homeland security in Bosnia and numerous assignments during the Iraqi Freedom campaign.

This passion for defending the Constitution is a family tradition that has been passed on: many of the children who have been part of our home have chosen to join the military – not just for its education benefits, but in recognition of the honor and the duty of the call.

Our republic’s flag is a symbol of our country and the liberties we enjoy daily.  It is also a remembrance of my family’s dedication and the commitment we share across the generations. Each of us has written a blank check to the U.S. government for everything up to and including our lives.  It is a choice each of us has made, and a family tradition we are proud of.