The LFVA almost always celebrates the turn of each season with a festive cocktail party, but this time we decided to celebrate in an entirely different way. With this being an election year, we decided to put a spotlight on what’s most important – our true American heroes, the men and women that keep us safe and protect the freedoms that we all enjoy.

On Thursday September 29, 2016 the LFVA hosted a luncheon at Hotel Monaco that featured Medal of Honor recipient Florent Groberg. To say that he was a captivating speaker is a severe understatement. Over the course of an hour, he told us the story of how he came to the United States from France as a child, became an American and the events that drove him from a young age to become a member of the United States Army.

Florent Groberg joined the U.S. Army in 2008 after graduating from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice. He attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA to receive his commission as an infantry officer. After completing Infantry Officer Basic Course, Mechanized Leaders Course, U.S. Army Airborne and U.S. Army Ranger Schools, he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO as a platoon leader.

After a 2009 – 2010 deployment in Afghanistan, a stateside assignment as a platoon leader, and a reassignment as infantry company executive officer, Groberg was assigned as the brigade personal security detachment commander for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. In February 2012 he deployed again to Afghanistan and was promoted to Captain in July of that same year.

On the morning of August 8, 2012, Groberg and his troops served as a personal security detachment responsible safely escorting 28 coalition and Afgan National Army leaders on foot to a weekly security meeting. As the patrol advanced toward the governor’s compound they were approached by a suicide bomber. Without thought of his own safety, Groberg tackled the bomber, who then detonated his device. This action caused a second suicide bomber instantly detonated his device prematurely.

Although three U.S. military personnel and a Foreign Service Officer were killed and several others injured, Groberg’s actions prevented the bombers from detonating their devices as planned, which would have killed many more.

For his August 2012 actions, Groberg received the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor in the United States. He is the 19th recipient since the Vietnam War and the 10th living recipient. President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Groberg on November 12, 2015 at a ceremony at the White House.

Perspective can easily be lost amidst the pomp and circumstance of a Presidential election. We (the LFVA members) thought that it would be nice to remind all who could join us that political affiliation, difference of opinion, political theater, etc may divide us in some respects, but together we are all Americans. We are intrinsically patriotic and humbled by the selfless sacrifice that our military members make on a daily basis, so that we can live our lives any way we choose.

These words will never be enough, but we will continue to say them anyway – thank you to all who serve, have served and will serve. And, a very special heart-felt thank you to Captain Florent Groberg who brought the daily reality of troops on the ground to those of us that have the luxury to never fully understand.