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November 11, 2021
Dear Key Communicators,
I want to call you attention to the fact that today is Veterans Day in our country. This is the day citizens across our great nation pay tribute to those who have served as members of the Armed Forces. The following passage from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs explains the genesis of what was then called Armistice Day, which we now know as Veterans Day.
“World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
This year gives us two solemn reminders of why we need to honor our veterans. 2021 is the 20th Anniversary of the attacks against our country on September 11, 2001. 2021 is also the 80th Anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
I was fortunate to attend a Veterans event recently with former Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell as the guest speaker. He ended his speech with this with some words that I hope we can all put into practice.
“Let’s continue to honor our veterans whenever we can. When you see a veteran please thank them for their service,” he said. “I will admit that sometimes I do not know what to say back to the person who just thanked me, but I do appreciate it. I work with veterans in many capacities and so many have told me that they appreciate those words of thanks as well.”
Let me again say that we are fortunate to have many veterans currently working in Alief ISD. They are working as teachers, coaches, principals, in our transportation department, police officers, JROTC instructors, in our mail room and in many more campuses and departments throughout our district. One of our Board Members, Rick Moreno, proudly served our country as well. I am truly appreciative for the veterans in our district, and for their contribution to our country and way of life.
I also want us to keep in mind so many former Alief ISD students who are now serving in the military and the sacrifices they make on a daily basis to protect our freedom.
Let me close by sharing powerful words from the late Colin Powell, a retired four-star general who passed away last month. He also became the first African-American Secretary of State and also served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is the highest position in the Department of Defense.
“The nation owes a great debt to its veterans, whose service to the nation spans every decade, every year, every day of our country’s existence. Through untold courage and sacrifice, America’s veterans have secured the liberty which the founding fathers sought to establish here in the new world. Whenever and wherever the nation has called – in times of darkness and danger as well as in times of peace and prosperity – America’s veterans have been there. Veterans have proudly carried the torch of liberty for all to see.”
Please join me in expressing our thanks to all veterans, today and every day.
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