"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Today we celebrate Veteran's Day by thanking those who have sacrificed and still do so for our freedom. I, personally, am reminded of classmates and friends who have voluntarily committed years of their lives to ensure that I can continue to experience the safety and independence I currently enjoy. I admit that I take their service for granted... so that is why I am encouraged by Lt. Gen. Hal Moore. As Mac shared on Monday, we were honored to be visited by Lt. Gen. Hal Moore in September of last year, and even more honored to publish his life and realizations in our book A Tender Warrior: 5 Leadership Lessons to America. His desire to bring his soldiers home alive was only equaled by his dedication to peace after the war. Please enjoy the movie summary to the General's book:
As Mac wrote before, war is an unfortunate consequence of the world in which we live, and it is incumbent upon us to seek out peace. Standing in the gap between the world we live in now and the peaceful world we desire are the service men and women of the military. We are blessed to have people like Hal Moore, who fight to protect innocent people and preserve ideals, yet at the same time care deeply about reconciliation between enemies. Let's remember them today, and instead of simply talking about how much we appreciate them, let us live out that sentiment by writing to our friends and relatives in the field. Or, if you do not personally know anyone, here are some sites that can connect you with a soldier:
http://www.anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/
http://soldiersangels.org/letter-writing-team.html
http://www.amillionthanks.org/
http://letterstosoldiers.org/site/