Serving for Freedom - A Veteran's Day Commemoration

Ladies and gentlemen…Our Veterans and their Families

It is my distinct honor and privilege as a fellow veteran and public servant to be invited to speak to you from my heart about serving for Freedom in this great Nation. My Grandparents raised our family here and my Aunt and Uncle still call Greenwich home. ?I thank you for this solemn invitation. I pray our brief time together will be of value.

Freedom is not free. It’s a phrase we’ve all heard, but have we truly considered the worth, and the tragic costs?

First the worth - The freedom to speak our minds, to worship as we choose, to pursue happiness, to achieve prosperity though hard work, and to elect our leaders without fear or hatred. Ultimately the freedom to unite as Americans committed to the rule of law.

These freedoms were bought and paid for by the sacrifices of our veterans. From Valley Forge to Kandahar, and even now in the Middle East, American service members stand guard on the front lines to defend our liberties, often at great personal sacrifice without complaint, without wavering, without question, without the promise of a reward…other than the inner peace to know they gave.

Now, the costs. We pay with long separations from loved ones, missing birthdays, first steps, and precious moments that can never be reclaimed. Many have paid with their health, bearing physical and emotional scars that may never fully heal. And some—far too many—have paid the ultimate tragic price, laying down their lives so that we can live in freedom.

Today, as we enjoy the blessings of liberty, we take a moment to reflect on those who have sacrificed, so that the rest of the Nation can achieve their dreams and prosperity. ?Let us remember that behind every folded flag is a story of courage, of the sacrifice of dreams because of love for country. At the same time, every flying flag represents the proud commitment to the ideals of freedom, liberty, and opportunity that has drawn people from all over the world to this great land. It’s the flag of our generations that came before us… and, God willing, the generations that will follow us.

It represents, on one piece of cloth, the history of our country standing strong to oppose tyranny and oppression. It is the American symbol of hope for peace. We will never let others take our flag down.

To our veterans: We can never fully repay the debt we owe you. But, we can strive to be worthy of your sacrifices. We can work to strengthen a nation that lives up to the ideals for which you fought. We can continue to gather at the monuments we have erected around the world to honor your service, and to ensure your sacrifices are never forgotten. We can cherish your lives, and our memories. We can be moved to act in your honor.

We cannot afford to leave here with our lives untouched. We must vow today to reignite the fire for service to our Country. Less than 5 percent of the American population today is associated with the military. We must encourage - in our stories, in family discussions this Thanksgiving, in our schools, and in our social media, the value of giving back in public service, the value of contributing to the defense of our common freedoms, the value of looking outside ourselves to ask what we can do for others. ?The honorable decision to serve in our military. But, your service is not over.

We need you called back to duty. We need Veterans and other public servants to go into our schools, not just on Veterans day, but throughout the year to promote the virtues of public service. I hope to be invited back next year to see a line of school buses behind us with students of all ages listening to our words. We cannot continue to ask a dwindling portion of our society to carry the same burden for us that each of you undertook. ?I ask that each of you consider at this moment what YOU can do to reach out to our younger generations. They need your voice. ?

At my Alma Mater, there is a motto engraved over the east entrance to the University Cathedral as a memorial to veterans – God, Country, Notre Dame, or our Lady, our Mother. On this day, I end with this dedication - God, Country, Each of you and Family. ?

Thank you for your character, conviction, and sacrifice. You made a decision to pay for freedom with your selfless service.? Thank you for valuing the worth to defend this Great Nation. God bless you, and God bless America.

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