Veterans Day 2010
November 11th is Veteran’s Day, a day set aside to honor US military veterans who have given so much to protect our country. We have many military families among our community, including K12 employees in Northern Virginia.
With that in mind, I’d like for you to hear directly from some Veterans on the K12 team – and honor and thank them both, as well as the many other Veterans out there who have given so much to ‘defend the principles, freedoms, and security of our nation’.
Name: Aaron S. Hall Branch: ARMY Years of service: 18+ years, combined active/reserve K¹² position: Vice President, Program Management
It has been an honor to serve our country as an Army soldier and officer for the past 18+ years in both an active and reserve capacity. Many ask why I chose to do this, or why I continue to choose to serve; for me, it simply comes down to giving back to the country and our society.
It has been tough at times, in fact -it is consistently difficult and most don’t realize that as a leader in today’s military reserve, one is required to actively maintain two professional careers. It has also been a huge challenge for my family. The old adage ‘one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer’ does not apply at all to today’s military.
I was embroiled in a very demanding position at a dynamic company and my wife was pregnant with our first child when I was called to active duty in 2003 as the US prepared to enter into the conflict in Iraq. I was lucky enough to be able to get home for my son’s birth, unlike many others, but it was hugely stressful for my wife to deal with my absence throughout much of her pregnancy. I likely do not thank her enough for her support. I can say, without a doubt that I have felt the most tired, most frustrated, and most fulfilled while in uniform and serving with the finest soldiers in the world.
My experience in the Army has shaped my frame of reference such that no matter how challenging or disappointing a situation is at home or at work, no matter how cold or hot I am, I know first-hand that there are people throughout the world (in uniform and not) who are experiencing much, much worse conditions than I am. Some might say that has resulted in me being an optimist; you’ll have to ask my colleagues in Product Development about that.
One last thought – if you see a uniformed soldier (or sailor, airman, marine, coastguardsman, etc.) in the airport, at the grocery store, in the library – please say hello and consider saying thanks. It means more than you can imagine for individual citizens to simply acknowledge the role military personnel play in safe-guarding our freedom.
Name: Alan Reyes Rank/Branch: Commander, US Navy Years of service: 19 years, combined active/reserve K¹² position: Senior Director, School Services
My father immigrated to the United States from the Philippines as part of a program that allowed Filipino citizens to enlist in the Navy and earn their US citizenship at the same time. So, it was important to me to serve our country as well to recognize the huge opportunity the Navy gave to my family. During my time in the Navy, I’m proud to have met and worked with people of all races, religions, genders, and backgrounds from our nation. I am humbled by what these men and women do every day to defend the principles, freedoms, and security of our nation separating from their families, halting other parts of their lives to deploy to far off lands, and, in too many cases, making the ultimate sacrifice.
There was an old Navy ad that said “Navy, it’s not just a job, it’s an adventure!”, and I’ve been lucky enough to have my share of them. I started my career on a fast-attack submarine that navigated hundreds of feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Gulf, submerged for weeks and sometimes months at a time. I’ve been catapulted off of the deck of an aircraft carrier. I’ve visited dozens of ports and countries around the world. Later in life, during my Navy Reserve career, I served twice in the Middle East, taking Sailors ashore where we worked alongside the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard to move cargo, equipment, and troops around Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the region. Serving ‘over there’ and meeting many of the regular people – men, women, and children – from that part of the world reminded me that in all parts of the world, most people want a better and peaceful life for themselves and their families.
On this Veteran’s Day and every day, take some time to honor and acknowledge those who have served and who are currently serving far from home and of course, their loved ones. Without their service and sacrifice, the world would be a very different place.
Looking for different ways to honor our Vets? Visit the Department of Veteran’s Affairs for information or do a ‘Google’ search for ‘Local Veteran’s Day Events or Activities’.
And if you are looking to connect with other K12 military families, make sure to visit the Parents’ Lounge in thebigthinK12, where you can find and join the Military Family Social Group to meet, connect and support other families just like you!
Similar Posts:
- Memorial Day 2011
- K¹² Appreciates Our Military Members and Their Families – Including a Giveaway
- Hogg Foundation Awards Bilingual Scholarships to Baylor Social Work Grad Students
- Service and Leadership: Small Ripples Can Make Big Waves in the World.
- A wake-up call
