The Green Light Letter, and Why I Serve

This past Tuesday I shared this message with the United States Air Force Academy team, and wanted to share it here as well. This week marked the 77th anniversary of one of my favorite historical anecdotes, one that is a reminder to me of why I serve our nation in uniform, and happens to involve a sport I love. I hope each of you are enjoying a great start to 2019, and I wish you a “green light” to success in the coming year.

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Team USAFA,

Happy New Year to all! This is a few weeks late, but I will explain. I hope each of you had a pleasant and restful holiday season, and were able to enjoy some downtime with family, friends and loved ones. While we are back into full swing this semester, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on one of my favorite historical anecdotes that occurred 77 years ago today. This story best explains why after 33 years, I consider it a privilege to continue to serve.

On January 15, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a letter to the first commissioner of baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, which would become known as the “Green Light Letter.” In the letter, the President offers his support for the continuation of professional baseball seasons despite a nation fully focused on supporting the efforts of World War II. President Roosevelt loved baseball, and felt that it could provide an anxious and hard-laboring public with a low cost “chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work,” as the war raged on. His words became an inspiration, giving Americans the “green light” to continue enjoying not only baseball but their way of life in the face of the forces that threatened it.

President Roosevelt’s letter is a reminder to me of why I’m proud to serve our nation in uniform, and how important our role here at USAFA is in shaping the future of our profession of arms. I serve so that the President can publish a Green Light Letter every year, or even every day, telling our fellow citizens that despite the many threats we face, Americans can continue to enjoy their way of life because the professional men and women of our armed forces are keeping those threats at bay, day and night. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence on this campus so that the leaders we develop will not falter when they face the many unknown threats the future will bring. Here and throughout our military, we serve so that our fellow Americans will have the “green light” to enjoy their lives in peace and prosperity for generations to come. I serve so that in some small way I can help give a green light to our nation’s way of life, day after day.

The President’s letter also recognized that the value a welcome distraction like baseball can provide shouldn’t be underestimated. We all need some time to relax and take part in something we enjoy, and right here at our Academy we have many opportunities for recreation that I encourage you to take part in. In the coming year, I hope you’ll find time to take your minds off of work when you can and enjoy your own distractions, whether it’s a sporting event, a hobby, or simply spending some time with family and friends. The USAFA baseball team opens up its season on Feb. 15 in Louisiana against Army, and on Feb. 18, Major League Baseball will open the professional season as pitchers and catchers report to spring training. During these upcoming seasons I plan to follow my two favorite baseball teams – the Air Force Falcons and the Los Angeles Dodgers – enjoying what President Roosevelt described as “thoroughly worthwhile” recreation.

I’ll smile when I see the first pitch. That smile will be from the privilege of serving alongside each and every one of you as we work together to provide the green light to our nation for yet another baseball season.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication in 2018. I look forward to sharing another outstanding year with you in 2019.

Sincerely, JS