This is an exert of the speech that I gave in honor of our Veterans:
I stand here today and I remove my title as principal – today, I am simply a grateful American. And I stand on behalf of other grateful Americans who don’t have the honor of speaking to their heroes on Veterans Day. I represent grateful Americans who wish they could reach out and thank each of you personally.
Thank you. Two words. Eight letters. We say it all the time – sometimes we don’t even think about it when we say it: I like your shoes. “Thank you.” How are you? “Doing well, thank you.” Can I get that door for you? “Thank you.” Within seconds we have moved away from that moment and have forgotten what we said and to whom we said it.
So where is the power, the emotion in “thank you?” When do two words – eight letters – earn their stripes as words of gratitude? Words of appreciation? Words of thankfulness?
It happens when we put action behind the words. It happens when we look into someone’s eyes and speak from our hearts. It happens when we remember what we said and to whom we said it. It happens when we say it because we mean it and not because it’s an auto-response. It happens when we don’t plan for it and we aren’t prepared for it but we are stirred to say it. It happens when we let our hearts speak.
I remember my dad and his service to our great nation. I remember the times that he left for weeks on end to serve his country at his duty station all along the east coast. As a 45-year-old man, I can say, I still remember the feeling of loss, but also as a 45-year-old man, I can say how proud I am for him to serve our country. Every step that I take, every breath that I take, I am so thankful for people like my dad who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we enjoy today. Especially this week after we were able able to express our right to vote.
And so, the emotion is met with action. Gratitude collides with thankfulness and we move into a place of thanksgiving.
Since World War I, the United States of America’s Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard have fought in ten battles.
We open our arms and our hearts and welcome all who have fought in conflicts overseas home. Some did not come home alive, some did not all come home whole, and some are not home yet and for this we are thankful. The enormity of their sacrifice is beyond comparison. So how do we dare to believe two words, eight letters is enough? I must quote John 15:13, “There’s no greater love than a person who would lay down their life for one’s friends.”
John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
So, it isn’t enough to say it – we need to be it. Grateful. Thankful. Appreciative. The greatest prayer you can say is “Thank You.” Two words. Eight letters. But weighted with love, gratitude, humility, and understanding.
With each day that passes we move further away from these wars. The heroes pass, time pushes in new headlines, life gets in the way of the past, and we move through our own days and months, and years.
Ceremonies are important but our gratitude has to be more than once a year. We honor these men and women most by living well. Thank you, Veterans, for your service to our great nation. #sonorastrong
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