The Country We Loved Didn’t Love Us Back. Maybe This Time Would Be Different.
I remember being taken in by our neighbors, how they embraced my family and introduced us to football, fireworks, and the spirit of America.
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DonateSadia Ali Heil is a special education advocate who served eight years on active duty in the Air Force. Heil earned a master’s in military operational art and science and a master’s in special education. A Tillman Scholar and 2022 War Horse Writing Fellow, she is a fierce proponent of inclusion for service members and individuals with disabilities.
I remember being taken in by our neighbors, how they embraced my family and introduced us to football, fireworks, and the spirit of America.
Reuniting with my friends felt like taking a deep breath of fresh air: exhilarating and good for my soul.
During a trip to Arlington to honor Muslim veterans, an Air Force officer reflects on how her career of military service began the daughter of Pakistani immigrants..