Last week during Commencement, President George W. Bush honored Air Force Academy graduate Erik Mirandette, author of The Only Road North: 9,000 Miles of Dirt and Dreams:
"We see the strength and spirit of this class in a Cadet named Erik Mirandette. In 2003, Erik felt a tug at his heart from the Almighty to take time off from the Academy and do humanitarian work in Morocco. After nearly two years there, Erik, and his brother Alex and two childhood friends, decided to ride across the African continent on dirt bikes. The last stop in their journey was Cairo -- where a suicide bomber attacked them by exploding a bucket filled with nails. The blast killed Erik's brother, injured his two friends, and left Erik bleeding on the street. Doctors did not think he'd ever walk again. He never gave up his dream of coming back to this Academy. And 14 months ago, after surviving the blast, Erik returned to this campus. Today he begins his career as a proud officer in the greatest Air Force known to man.
He still has got dozens of nails in his body. But he has a fierce determination in his heart -- to protect his country, defeat the forces of terror. Erik puts it this way: 'I'll live the rest of my life scarred inside and outside. But I've got a sense of calling. I want to prevent attacks on other good people.'"
Read the entirety of President Bush's Commencement address at this link. Read a cover story article from the Grand Rapids Press about Erik at this link. Read a sample chapter from Erik's book The Only Road North here: 
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Rick Warren
