Hazleton Area High School Veterans Day Speech

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RP Members and Connections I wanted to share a great speech given this past Veterans Day by one of our very own RP Members LTC Jim Tighe

Please take a few moments to read his speech - this really hits home in so many ways!

Here is a prelude to the Speech (check out the link for the rest) thank you

Hazleton Area High School Veterans Day Speech
JIM TIGHE·FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

Over the last few months, you have been bombarded with the politics of the election. In that time something else happened that was likely lost amid the 24 hour news cycle. But leaving politics aside for a moment, I ask that you take a moment remember five American Warriors that paid the ultimate price last week in Iraq; Capt. Andrew Byers, Sgt. SFC Ryan Gloyer, SSG Mathew Lewellen, SSG Kevin McEnroe and SSG James Moriarty………

I was trying to think of what to say to you all today. It’s really not like me to stand up in front of people to talk about myself or my time in the military. Service of all sorts; be it a policeman, fireman, educator, priest, sailor, marine, airman, coasty, soldier or any job that is dedicated to others, is a very personal decision. I saw speaking about it as boastful, detracted from the very reason I made so many choices. So standing before you today is very much out of character for me. I almost decided not to accept Ms Belucci’s invitation. I told Ms Belucci, that I was extremely honored to be asked to speak to you but it was something I really needed to think about. While I was thinking about the invitation; my wife had a conversation with a teacher. It was that conversation that helped me with my decision to be here with you today.
I was taken aback by both the words that the teacher chose and the tone of indignation expressed was reminiscent of my worst childhood memories. I remembered the protests of the Vietnam War and the disdain that was shown to the men and women returning from that war. In that moment it became apparent to me that there remains a hidden disgust of servicemen and women, perhaps even what their uniform stands for. It was in that moment, I realized that I was being given an opportunity to continue my service to give you an idea of what this old soldier believes Veterans Day is about.

Many of you play on some kind of team or are involved in club of some kind with other kids. You find out pretty early on that winning is important. But with the help of your parents, coach or adviser you come to realize that doing the best you can for your teammates is even more important. Over time you develop a drive to never let anyone of your teammates down.. In a team, be it athletic or academic, it’s your teammates make you better.

You push each other. You pick each other up. You keep each other focused on the goal. It is working as a team that makes participation so important and why success feels so darned good. If you think about why it feels so good to win on a Friday night under the lights or obtaining the results of an experiment with your lab partner…a big part of it is because you’ve done something great with the friends that you worked so hard alongside. Some of your best friends in life will be the people you’ve been on teams with or done big projects with here in school. The Army or any branch of the military isn’t much different, though the stakes are much higher.

More to follow.......