They were SEALs, and that’s as far as you or I will ever know. We will not even get to know their names, let alone see them on Larry King, Oprah or Ellen. To put it simply – that’s just not how they roll. Maybe it is because of this meaningful phrase in the SEAL creed – “I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions”.

I read Michael Stetz of The Union Tribune’s feature on the SEALs and couldn’t agree with him more. It is certainly refreshing to find heroes of the truest sense right in our midst. Let’s face it, in this day and age, media is equated with glamour. Not too few people would like to get their shot at fifteen minutes of fame. Just looking at the proliferation of reality shows, where people even go as far as letting others invade what ideally should be the privacy of their homes is testament to the pull of media fame and popularity – and that never ceases to amaze me.

But it is already more than a week since Easter, and we haven’t even seen the shadows of any of the three SEAL snipers who pulled that famed rescue. As Stetz so accurately pointed out, if it had been anyone else, then we would certainly be hearing them tell their stories. Not that we are undermining the bravery of these other people – after all, it will probably be a rarity for anyone to be out searching for someone to rescue just so one could have that spot on national TV.

Then again, what may be amazing for us is all in a day’s work for the SEALs. This is something that they have trained long and hard to do, and this is probably why it is not something that they need to talk about. It does not make the job any easier – but it is not something to brag about either. Because bragging is not part of their job description. Their careers, their safety and the safety of their loved ones depend on it.

So, for now, the most we can do is be very vocal about our appreciation for the good that the SEALs do, not just for Easter’s rescue but for the many untold stories that we have not heard, for we might never get to see the day that we can thank them face to face.