The first time I discovered Silver Oak was as a young boy fresh from the fight in Baghdad. Our unit suffered heavy losses and it felt surreal to not only be home, but to be alive and reasonably well. I’ll never forget my coming home, being surrounded by loved ones and trying so hard not to cry over friends who gave their all in the service of our nation. That night, my father introduced me to a bottle of Silver Oak he bought for my homecoming celebration. Even at a young age, I knew it was special. From that first sip, I fell in love. The years went by and so did the tours of duty…five, to be exact. There was always a bottle of Silver Oak waiting for me upon my return. Now, as a 26 year old disabled combat veteran, I find myself with a new set of challenges, but I don’t let them get me down. Every Veterans Day and every 4th of July, In indulge myself with the company of good friends, family and, of course, a bottle of Silver Oak. Those first few sips always take me back to that young boy trying to be a man, and when I look back on my life years from now, I’ll remember how special those times were, and how that familiar bottle of Silver Oak was always there.
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