Scott's View: Morgan Freeman - From the Air Force to Oscar Stardom

With the Oscars this month, we wanted to recognize the indomitable spirit and extraordinary talent of Morgan Freeman. As you can read in this week's CelebVet feature, he is a man of deep insight and lives with a sense of purpose. He took what inspired him as a young kid, and made his life a success through persistence, a belief in himself and a sense of importance of giving back.

In many ways, Sidney Poitier - who broke the color barrier and became the first black actor to win the Oscar in 1964 - changed Freeman's life and inspired him to land his breakthrough role in "Driving Miss Daisy" - "It meant that I could (win an Oscar) too. His whole life meant that I could. His whole career informed me," Freeman told Variety Magazine last year.

When we attended the Invictus Games last year in Orlando, I remember how the crowd cheered for Morgan Freeman, an Air Force Veteran, as he narrated part of the opening ceremonies. All I kept thinking was they got the right man for the job. A role model for all. I'm am proud to call him a fellow veteran.