I’m often asked – “What Does Veterans Day Mean to Me?”
The answer to this question changes year to year and even day to day as my time in uniform moves further in the past. Each Veteran reflects differently on that point and the context of our lives before, during and after our service is critically important to the answer. One thing for me that doesn’t change – I’m grateful for the 32 years I spent in uniform. I’m especially grateful for the lessons I’ve learned along the way that have prepared me to be successful in my post-Army career.
I entered the Army at age 17 in 1987 as a young, brash, and naïve kid from a small rural town. For the first time in my life I was in a peer group with people from all over the country. People with diverse backgrounds, upbringings, ethnicities and religions. We came together at Harmony Church in Fort Benning, Georgia in an environment that stripped away those things that made us different and brought us together for a common purpose. Individually I and others from relatively homogenous environments had to learn inclusiveness, empathy and tolerance in the process of coming together as part of a team. Equally important - while navigating the individual and team challenges we sowed the seeds of discipline, organization, accountability and teamwork.
Improbably, I was accepted to West Point from the enlisted ranks. Four years at West Point reinforced the same lessons from my brief enlistment, and added qualities like – perseverance, goal-setting, research and managing emotions. The next 26 years built on these and added more. In Ranger School I learned how much the mind controls and can expand the body’s limits. In combat I learned to progress through fear and grief toward a larger objective. Lessons like these continued through multiple deployments, innumerable challenges, and intense highs and lows - reinforced in environments where every decision impacted someone’s life.
I’m sure there are more lessons from my time in service. This is not a thorough audit. I’m also wise enough to know that military service isn’t the only crucible that teaches these lessons. I and Veterans like me don’t have a monopoly on character. Many paths lead to the same mountaintop. We can be proud that we took this path voluntarily – but we should be humble and thankful for the opportunities as well.
There is much discussion and an entire industry built around the question – “where do Veterans fit into our social fabric?” As I’ve embarked on my new career I’ve been asked questions like: “How can you fit in so well?” “How did you make such a smooth transition?”
Some may find my answer unsatisfying. It is certainly not intended to be glib. Regardless my answer is this:
I have not tried.
“Fitting in” implies that society is some magical puzzle where one snaps in to complete the picture. “Transition” implies that changing yourself is necessary in the process of moving from one career to another. That my identity is something different because I’ve hung up the camouflage and medals and donned (mostly) matching bowties and pocket squares.
In reality there is no puzzle that I magically fit into. Instead – I am the artist painting the picture I want to be part of – I’m simply using a different brush. I haven’t transitioned – I’ve just changed careers. I’ve taken into this new career the discipline, work ethic, empathy, integrity, perseverance, grit and every other trait I gathered in my time in service.
So, at this point and time in my life – the answer to the question “What does Veterans Day mean to me?” - is this. Being a Veteran is an important part of my identity – an identity I continue to refine. I am the sum total of the experiences, lessons and accomplishments from 32 years of experience – plus those before and after. Today I pause to celebrate that identity and appreciate those who find it honorable. You thank me for my service and I thank you for recognizing it.
