Thankful

As we approach Thanksgiving week, it’s only natural to reflect on the many things I am grateful for over this past year. However, because I did not post a blog last week for Veterans Day, I have to start with that.

I was asked to participate in three very special events for Veterans Day. My week started with an interview on the Home and Family Show which airs every morning, five days a week on the Hallmark Channel. I got to sit down with the hosts of the show and talk about my son Ben’s service as an Army Ranger and the legacy of heroism he left behind. I traveled to Los Angeles for this and got to spend several hours at Universal Studios on set with a group of wonderfully kind people. The interview aired on Veterans Day (observed 11/12) to a national television audience.

Three days later I drove four hours to rural, southern Illinois to speak to three different groups in a small school district. The first group were high school students, the second were middle schoolers, and the third was a combination of those students plus local veterans who were invited guests to be honored for Veterans Day. Barely 48 hours later, I was on my way to New Jersey to speak at the corporate headquarters for a pharmaceutical company. The event was broadcast live in four locations and could be heard in multiple locations across the United States.

Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.
-Theo. Roosevelt

My son’s first inspiration for joining the military was his great grandfather. Ben admired his service during WWII, yet, overall he admired who he was as a man and all he had worked for to become who he was. Ben knew nothing was handed to him: he had worked hard to achieve what he did. To Ben, this is what made him a man worthy of admiration.

I was invited to the IL schools by the mother of a Ranger who served with my son. Shane flew in from out of state as a surprise to his mother and me. Of course we were both happy to have him there, not just because we love him, but he also attended school here and I had not seen him for five years. At the high school assembly, I asked the students if any of them knew without a doubt what they wanted to do when they graduated. I was surprised at the number of hands that went up, but a group of young men in boy scout uniforms caught my attention because all of their hands were raised. I asked if any of them were Eagle Scouts and four of the six of them raised their hands again. I happen to know a thing or two about scouting and know that this is quite an accomplishment. Eagle Scouts are natural leaders and often join the military.

When the assembly was over, one of those young men approached me and told me he hoped he would one day be as courageous as my son. He is standing in front of me wearing his scout sash, not only newly pinned with his eagle scout, but literally adorned with more than 50 patches representing his achievements. He tells me he plans to attend the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He also points out the bugle he’s carrying and shares that he aspires to become an actual bugler and will learn to play TAPS in honor of my son. I was deeply touched and gently reminded him of the courage he possessed to accomplish all he has and that he need only look in the mirror to see it.

The middle school children carried small flags and waved them excitedly during their portion of the program. There were patriotic signs of gratitude covering the hallways and a wall of honor for the staff and students to recognize family and friends who had served in the military. It was refreshing to see such displays and to know that these children were well aware of the meaning of Veterans Day. I love being able to visit the communities in rural America. This is truly where the heartbeat of our country flourishes and where future leaders are being raised.

My last stop of the week was to a NJ pharmaceutical company with international headquarters, multiple US locations and a strong support network for their veteran employees. The woman who invited me heard me speak in Florida the year before and convinced her new employer to expand their Veterans Day program to a live broadcast at four different locations. The satellite locations were able to listen audibly as well. The on sight employees were invited to the auditorium and treated to refreshments. It was encouraging to be in a large corporate environment where honoring their veteran employees and our nation's veterans was a priority.

I will always be grateful to the men and women in uniform who have honorably served our country. What every one of them, past and present, was willing to sacrifice, directly relates to my list of things to be grateful for. Thanksgiving is a good time to acknowledge this. I was able to travel without fear from coast to coast. I was able to drive into the most rural of communities and step into a public school and speak to the students about God, family and country. I was able to speak to corporate America about the same without being scrutinized for my beliefs. I was able to share my son’s heroism on national television and be granted enormous opportunity to educate and raise awareness about the sacrifices our veterans are not only willing to make, but do make, every single day.

I could write a long list of standard things I am grateful for; a roof over my head, a full belly every day, friends, family who love me, etc. However, at the end of the day all of the above fit under the categories of God, family and country. In these three things is where my thankfulness and gratitude will always rest.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
-Melody Beattie

Sending belated gratitude to all of our veterans and wishing all of you a blessed Thanksgiving.