Yesterday was a special day to honor our military past and present.
Every day should be used to thank veterans for keeping our country free and safe.
My dad was a Marine who fought through all the islands in the Pacific in World War II. My brother Mike flew helicopters for the Marines for five years. (He once got a ticket for landing a helicopter in Yellowstone National Park!)
I spent two amazing years after Notre Dame in the U.S. Army, Infantry, Airborne and Pathfinder. Phenomenal leadership experience at 22 years old. (I was pretty ‘gungho’, which is a military word for excited to serve. Thankfully, in restrospect, I was the first class out of Fort Benning to NOT go to Vietnam.)
Note on Gratitude: We owe a debt of gratitude to all of our veterans and current military. I have a lot of Notre Dame boxers who have served and are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Middle East. I think of them often.
While it’s a nice gesture to say to our current military, “Thank you for your service” … what really needs to be done is to help them with the TRANSITION from military to a career and family and a new life.
If you are in a position to do so … most are extremely talented, committed leaders … help them to begin their post-military life.
Special Note: Many of these returning vets would make great TALENT in the For Impact world … as executives, teachers, program leaders, sales and development staff and much more.
*Check out Howard Schultz’ new book ‘FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY‘. A lot of ‘good stuff’ on why we undervalue the potential and contributions to our communities.
