Leadership Thought: What Will You Do to Remember This Special Day?

Dear Friends.

Today is Veterans Day. We celebrate this special day every November 11^th.

It is different from Memorial Day in that today we celebrate anyone who has served or is serving in the armed forces as opposed to Memorial Day when we reflect and remember those who have lost their lives in the  service of our nation.

It seems to me that with each passing year these two holidays lose more and more of their significance, and this is unfortunate as both days are important reasons to stop and  celebrate.

As a child I grew up going to Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day parades. It was Roy Rogers who said, “We can’t all be heroes; someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by,” and I am grateful that I have done my share of clapping.

While I never served in the military, I have great respect for those who have. My dad was a colonel in the army and my brother-in-law was a career Marine, and I have a number of close friends who have served our country in different branches of the military, and I seldom waste an opportunity to express my gratitude to them for their service.

Today whenever I see someone wearing something that identifies them as having served our country, I am quick to say thanks. These men and women must never be forgotten and our expression of appreciation is an important way of affirming them and the contribution they have made in protecting our freedom.

As a history teacher for several years, I always  showed my classes the first twenty minutes of “Saving Private Ryan” to help impress upon them the significant sacrifice made by those who have fought to preserve our freedom.

I love to fly Old Glory, so much that I have flags flying in the front and the back of my cottage, and I plan on flying a third on a flagpole I hope to install next year.

It was always a special Sunday for me to stand in the pulpit and honor those who are serving or who have served by asking them to stand and be recognized and then to  be able to personally thank and pray for them.

No, I am not some crazed super patriot, but I am extremely proud and grateful for our country and for those who have served and who continue to serve to help preserve our freedoms, and I want to do whatever I can to ensure their contributions are never forgotten.

As we celebrate this today, let me suggest a few ways you might keep this day’s spirit alive.

1.Fly a flag, and if you don’t have one, go and purchase one and proudly and conspicuously  display it .

2.Write, e-mail or call and thank someone you know who has or is serving in the military. Let them know that their service is or was appreciated and not forgotten. I try to do this on either Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day, and it is a simple way to say thanks.

3.Express your appreciation to those you see who are wearing something that indicates they have served-a simple “Thank you for serving,” will not only be appreciated, but many times will often lead to an interesting conversation.

4. Donate your time and resources to military endeavors and support those organizations involved in highlighting military causes. I have friends in a former church who recently traveled to Washington to clean the walls of the Viet Nam War Memorial. If you are unsure what you can do, call your local American Legion for suggestions on how you can help.

5. Find out where parades are being held and show up and support them.

6. Take a moment to pray and give thanks for those you know who have served or who are presently serving our nation in some branch of the military.

And in closing may you always remember “America without soldiers would be like God without His angels.” Claudia Pemberton.

Yours faith and friendship,

Tom