Thank You for Your Support

With Veteran's Day (and, of course, the Marine Corps Birthday) right around the corner, social media feeds are already alight with Veteran-focused content. This comes as Election Day content is just barely winding down. For me, it's been a funny thing to support the establishment and defense of fledgling democracies, and then now to participate in our own. And through it all, fellow service members and veterans have always been a source of inspiration and hope. My work gives me a front row seat to witness the limitless potential for positive impacts veterans are capable of.

But I think sometimes we, as veterans, look only inward to our internal community for inspiring examples of great citizenship. We look to what we know because we recognize our own track record of doing great things. Much of the time, non-veterans will do the same: focusing on our leaders, our great units, and those exemplary few who've demonstrated uncommon valor on the battlefield as the people who make America great. But it is a great nation, of great people, that stands behind the greatest military force the world has ever known. I used to have a light-hearted response to the ol' "Thank you for your service," which was "Thanks for voting and paying your taxes."

One of those great people is my colleague, Minerva Viall. She works on a military base, for a college, which is partnered with a technology company, to deliver a program that supports transitioning service members and veterans. If you don't recognize why a convergence of such forces might make one's work...complex, please stop reading here. But things never seem complex to Minerva. She knows her own organization, it's policies and processes, like a chess master knows the board. She pays attention to all the other individuals and organizations around her, too, and always knows how to get what she needs to make things happen for others. I've watched seasoned military leaders become overwhelmed by complex responsibilities and sensitive obligations. Minerva is never overwhelmed, or at least she never let's it show. In fact, the only thing that seems to upset her is when others are being treated unfairly. Regardless of the situation, she's always ready to smile.

That's what really inspires me most: Minerva is an immeasurably positive, force for good. She cares about everyone, beyond just boilerplate customer service, but rather lasting relationship-building. In our time working together, she's directly assisted 247 veterans in attending my organization's program, but also the hundreds (maybe thousands) of service members and vets that have come through the school's office. She compassionately takes care of everyone--Lance Corporals to Lieutenant Colonels--to the best of her abilities, so they can access higher education and better their lives. She treats everyone with respect, kindness and dignity, while serving as the bedrock for a pleasant, happy, sometimes even fun working environment.

And, so, it is Minerva and our fellow Americans like her that give my mind peace in turbulent times, hope in divided times. It's always hard to measure the impact one good person can have on the lives of others, or our society as a whole. A few months ago, on PBS NewsHour, New York Times Columnist David Brooks asked what the new American story was or should be. For some reason, that question has nagged me. But I think part of the answer is, and always has been, that ours is a nation full of truly good people, who do their jobs and do them well, and make a positive difference in the lives of others. That's the nation of amazing people our veterans defended, and the nation of amazing people that supports them when their service ends.