And today is Veteran’s day and my thoughts are toward our fine military personnel of all the Armed Forces. Sitting here tonight at the Spiritual Fitness Center with several Soldiers watching the movie, “We Were Soldiers.” And here is a veteran tribute in the character Callaway in “We Were Soldiers.” As I was watching this movie, I couldn’t help but notice the personal courage and integrity displayed of Callaway, the reporter. Think about it, a journalist who didn’t agree with the Vietnam war decided to try to understand it through his journalism of the war.
…those in uniform “embody the spirit of service–a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.”— President Obama in his 2010 inaugural address.
And so, why do I believe that veterans deserve a tribute? For reasons patriotic or pragmatic, many Americans choose to enlist voluntarily. And, military work is the country’s oldest and most dangerous form of public service. Think about this, the military offers a way for people to help others, help their country, and not only change the world but change their own lives as well. For example, the Army values is appealing to our young Americans because values such as loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage instills lasting character. And lastly, the military offers greater reward in terms of the skills that members acquire and in the potential in advancement. But for all of its potential rewards, there are also substantial risks in military service. For most of these tested leaders, many continue serving in the public service after the military. And so, our veterans selfless service deserves our tribute.
And so, here is a tribute to our veterans…
Click here, to listen to Front & Center with John Callaway podcast. The Pritzker Military Library, located in Chicago, Illinois, has extensive collections in military history and military fiction, especially those works that illustrate the role of the citizen-soldier.
