My Alive Day - I've Moved Forward

This morning, I got a call from my kids reminding me that today is "Alive Day." It's the day of my last mission in the United States Army-the day I stepped on an IED and lost two legs and a finger.

When I woke up in Walter Reed after the explosion, I thought my service to the country was over. After all, as a soldier, I had to be in combat to save lives.

That was when my father gave me some tough love. He told me that I couldn't let my best days of service be in the past. This is exactly what I needed to hear. While my life no longer looked the same, it didn't mean my life was over.

I was going to find a new way to make a difference and set an example for my children. Now, instead of remembering September 19th as the day of my last mission or the day I lost my two legs and a finger, I remember it as my "Alive Day."

Here's my message to you: You can't be afraid to fail- it's only a part of getting to your win. Let each of your failures take you to a better place. If you spend your life serving something bigger than yourself, you'll leave this world with no regrets.

As your Representative, I have a new mission - to serve our community and our country in the halls of Congress. Just like the men and women I met in Walter Reed after the explosion, I'll fight to make sure that we have the freedom to decide that today can be better than yesterday, because that is what our country is all about.

I will continue to fight on your behalf - with no regret.