To our veterans here today, you are a part of an unbroken chain of patriots who have served this country with honor through the life of our nation. In big cities and small towns across our country there will be ceremonies around flagpoles and parades down Main Street to properly express our gratitude, to show our appreciation to men and women who served so that we might live free. It is right that we do so, but our tributes will ring hollow if we stop there.
In a way, the young men and women who have died in defense of our country gave up not only the life they were living, but also the life they would have lived—their chance to be parents; their chance to grow old with their grandchildren. It is very important to remember that every veteran’s life we honor today was just that—a life—just like yours and mine. A life with family and friends, and love and hopes and dreams and ups and downs; a life that should have been able to play its full course.
We have a new generation of leadership who’ve mastered cutting edge technologies and able to adapt to changing and unpredictable situation. They can perform under pressure, they’ve helped reconstruct towns and mediate disputes. They’ve managed large scale projects and learned to work on teams and stay committed to a mission. They get stuff done. They may have put away their uniforms but they’re not finished serving. Our veterans are moms and dads; they’re teachers and doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs, social workers and community and political leaders.
More and more companies are hiring veterans, not out of charity, not out of patriotism or some moral obligation—although they do have those obligations, but because they know its good business. If you want to the job done, hire, a vet. If you’re a business that needs team players who know how to lead and execute ideas, hire a vet. If you’re a school system that needs dedicated passionate teachers, hire a veteran. If you’re a non-profit that needs a leader who has been tested and can follow through on a vision, hire a veteran. Every sector every industry every community can benefit from the incredible talents of our veterans.
Today, we are the beneficiaries of their bravery and we are the stewards of their sacrifice. For the very first time in all of human history, more than half of the nations of the world live under governments of their own choosing. Our prosperity and power are greater than they have ever been. It is, therefore, our solemn obligation to preserve the peace and to make the most of this moment for our children and the children of the world. Our tributes today will ring hollow if we don’t ensure that our veterans receive the care that have earned and deserve and provide our veterans with the jobs and opportunities that they need when they come home.
We pause today to thank the more than 23 million surviving veterans and stand here today, committed to show our respect honor and to recognize our responsibility to these men and women, who committed to service and find new and innovative ways to continue their service.
Don’t let this day ring hollow. The veterans are the most trusted among us and the most tested of all Americans. Collectively, you represent generations of those who’ve served. You are not only the heart and soul, but you are the very spine of this nation. Thank you for your past, present and future service. A life of service to others and to our country is a gift, a precious gift.
Veteran’s Day 2019 in Greenland