Veteran’s Day 2011
Honoring All Who Served
Being asked to speak today is a huge honor for me. I take great pride in having served on multiple deployments
to Iraq with the United States Army in 2004 and 2010. Past deployments are something that I do not take lightly
and it is not something I speak freely of very often. It has not been easy for me or for my family and loved ones
that I left behind. However, I stand before you as a Veteran and hope to share with you what being a Veteran
means to me and for me.
In 1921, an American soldier—his name “known but to God”—was buried on a Virginia hillside overlooking the
Potomac River and the city of Washington, DC. The burial site of this unknown World War I soldier in
Arlington National Cemetery symbolized dignity and reverence for America’s veterans. This soldier represents
all the unidentified and missing Soldiers from World War I. Soldiers have been assigned to stand as Sentinels to
watch this tomb every minute of the day since 1937. This is an honorary and prestigious military assignment.
Each Soldier assigned spends 8 hours of preparation work prior to his/her shift. Guards take 21 steps to cross
from one side to the other as a symbol of the 21 gun salute – the highest honor given to any deceased military
dignitary. Guards perform duties in all weather conditions regardless of whether they are comfortable or not.
There have been three female Soldiers guarding the Tomb since 1921. 500 Soldiers have been awarded a wreath
pin on their lapel signifying that they have served as Guard of the Tomb since the creation of the pin in 1950.
You now know quite a bit about the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. What makes this burial site different from
the hundreds of thousands of other tombs that house Soldiers? This Soldier is unknown. It is difficult to pay
respect and remember this Soldier. However, Veterans Day gives us a unique opportunity to reflect and rejoice
in supporting our Veterans past, present and future.
George Washington said - “The willingness with which young people are likely to serve in war, no matter how
justified is directly proportional to how veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country”
You have grown up for the better part of your educational career in a part of history where America’s
involvement in military conflict has been the norm. Many military men and women have left comforts of home,
jobs, families, wives and husbands, to serve in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and
many others. Soldiers suffered through heat and cold on various continents during WWI and WW II. Korea and
Vietnam were tumultuous terrain where infection and dysentery were additional enemies. Extreme heat and
sand of the Gulf War were similar foes. It wasn’t always like this. Occasionally opposing forces/enemies have
attacked America. Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Terrorists destroyed two towers and
killed 2996 Americans on 9-11. America has a strong track record of military action outside of the US. Thanks
can be given to all Veterans for America’s ability to take the fight off US soil better protecting and preserving
lives and liberties of American citizens.
As George Washington said, you have the opportunity to reach out to Veterans and show them that they are
appreciated. You may ask how can you (6th through 12th) as students do this? I hope to share with you ideas of
what you can accomplish in your school and community to demonstrate your appreciation for the freedoms and
democracy that we enjoy because of Veterans that have faithfully served.
1. Appreciation and respect for our flag – The flag symbolizes unity, freedom, strength and diversity.
Veterans have sacrificed to protect our flag. They continually revere our nation’s colors – so should you.
a. Stand at a parade or other function when the flag goes by placing your hand over your heart.
b. Say the pledge of allegiance with meaning.
c. When handling the flag, show respect. Raise, lower, and fold the flag with continued thought of
the lives that have been lost protecting it.
d. Fly the flag outside of your home, school, or business.
e. Most importantly – assist others around you in recognizing the flag and help them pay proper
respect at appropriate times.
2. Take part in your community. The term Democracy means rule of the people. Democracy is a gift
continually renewed each year with blood, sweat, and tears from military men and women. Don’t
squander it.
a. Follow and participate in local, state, and national governments.
b. Volunteer to make renovations to local buildings and public facilities like parks and
campgrounds.
c. G
3. Know and understand the history of the United States – particularly the struggles that have been fought
and overcome by Soldiers from all branches so that all Americans can enjoy and utilize our rights.
4. Participate in and assist local groups that send care packages to Soldiers serving overseas.
5. Be aware of Veteran legislation and bills that could assist or hinder rights and benefits earned. Support
politicians that place a strong emphasis on Veteran’s benefits.
6. A simple status update on Facebook or Twitter stating your support for Veterans is a great way to let
Veterans, and others that you know, that you care.
7. Volunteer at a local care facility and listen to Veteran’s stories of service.
8. Lastly, when the opportunity presents itself, look a Vet in the eye, shake their hand and give them a
heartfelt “Thank you.” It goes a long way and reminds Veterans why they served or why they are
currently serving.
President Dwight Eisenhower encouraged Americans to fully participate in Veterans Day as he declared 11
November to be a national holiday. He admonished Americans to "Solemnly remember the sacrifices of all
those who fought so valiantly on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom,
and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting and enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have
been in vain."
Veterans are living all around us. We don’t have to travel to Washington DC to the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier to pay our respect and show our gratitude. We can show our support and recognition just about every
day in our own community. The Soldier buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier represents the great things
that Veterans have accomplished for our country. Just because we don’t know his identity does not mean that
we do not know about him. We know what kind of man, person, and Soldier he was because of the
characteristics that all Veterans have – dedication, loyalty, patriotism, a strong sense of service, protective
tendencies, sincerity, and willingness to lay down their lives for our nation. All Veterans also share these
qualities and many others. I encourage you, as youth, to prove George Washington right and demonstrate the
greatness of America by Honoring All Veterans Who Served.
William “Bill” Crawford certainly was an unimpressive figure, one you could easily overlook during a hectic
day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Crawford, as most of us referred to him back in the late 1970s, was our
squadron janitor.
While we cadets busied ourselves preparing for academic exams, athletic events, Saturday morning parades and
room inspections, or never-ending leadership classes, Bill quietly moved about the squadron mopping and
buffing floors, emptying trash cans, cleaning toilets, or just tidying up the mess 100 college-age kids can leave in
a dormitory.
Sadly, and for many years, few of us gave him much notice, rendering little more than a passing nod or throwing
a curt, “G’morning!” in his direction as we hurried off to our daily duties.
Why? Perhaps it was because of the way he did his job-he always kept the squadron area spotlessly clean, even
the toilets and showers gleamed. Frankly, he did his job so well, none of us had to notice or get involved. After
all, cleaning toilets was his job, not ours.
Maybe it was his physical appearance that made him disappear into the background. Bill didn’t move very
quickly and, in fact, you could say he even shuffled a bit, as if he suffered from some sort of injury. His gray hair
and wrinkled face made him appear ancient to a group of young cadets. And his crooked smile, well, it looked a
little funny. Face it, Bill was an old man working in a young person’s world. What did he have to offer us on a
personal level?
Finally, maybe it was Mr. Crawford’s personality that rendered him almost invisible to the young people around
him. Bill was shy, almost painfully so. He seldom spoke to a cadet unless they addressed him first, and that
didn’t happen very often. Our janitor always buried himself in his work, moving about with stooped shoulders, a
quiet gait, and an averted gaze. If he noticed the hustle and bustle of cadet life around him, it was hard to tell.
So, for whatever reason, Bill blended into the woodwork and became just another fixture around the squadron.
The Academy, one of our nation’s premier leadership laboratories, kept us busy from dawn till dusk. And Mr.
Crawford...well, he was just a janitor.
That changed one fall Saturday afternoon in 1976. I was reading a book about World War II and the tough Allied
ground campaign in Italy, when I stumbled across an incredible story. On Sept. 13, 1943, a Private William
Crawford from Colorado, assigned to the 36th Infantry Division, had been involved in some bloody fighting on
Hill 424 near Altavilla, Italy.
The words on the page leapt out at me: “in the face of intense and overwhelming hostile fire ... with no regard
for personal safety ... on his own initiative, Private Crawford single-handedly attacked fortified enemy
positions.” It continued, “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of
duty, the President of the United States ...”
“Holy cow,” I said to my roommate, “you’re not going to believe this, but I think our janitor is a Medal of Honor
winner.” We all knew Mr. Crawford was a WWII Army vet, but that didn’t keep my friend from looking at me
as if I was some sort of alien being. Nonetheless, we couldn’t wait to ask Bill about the story on Monday.
We met Mr. Crawford bright and early Monday and showed him the page in question from the book, anticipation
and doubt on our faces. He starred at it for a few silent moments and then quietly uttered something like, “Yep,
that’s me.” Mouths agape, my roommate and I looked at one another, then at the book, and quickly back at our
janitor. Almost at once we both stuttered, “Why didn’t you ever tell us about it?” He slowly replied after some
thought, “That was one day in my life and it happened a long time ago.” I guess we were all at a loss for words
after that. We had to hurry off to class and Bill, well, he had chores to attend to.
However, after that brief exchange, things were never again the same around our squadron. Word spread like
wildfire among the cadets that we had a hero in our midst-Mr. Crawford, our janitor, had won the Medal! Cadets
who had once passed by Bill with hardly a glance, now greeted him with a smile and a respectful, “Good
morning, Mr. Crawford.”
Those who had before left a mess for the “janitor” to clean up started taking it upon themselves to put things in
order. Most cadets routinely stopped to talk to Bill throughout the day and we even began inviting him to our
formal squadron functions. He’d show up dressed in a conservative dark suit and quietly talk to those who
approached him, the only sign of his heroics being a simple blue, star-spangled lapel pin. Almost overnight, Bill
went from being a simple fixture in our squadron to one of our teammates.
Mr. Crawford changed too, but you had to look closely to notice the difference. After that fall day in 1976, he
seemed to move with more purpose, his shoulders didn’t seem to be as stooped, he met our greetings with a
direct gaze and a stronger “good morning” in return, and he flashed his crooked smile more often.
WORLD WAR II
(1941 - 1945)
Total Servicemembers (Worldwide)..................16,112,566
Battle Deaths...........................................................291,557
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater).......................113,842
Non-mortal Woundings...........................................670,846
Living Veterans....................................................2,079,000
WORLD WAR I
(1917 - 1918)
Total Servicemembers (Worldwide)....................4,734,991
Battle Deaths.............................................................53,402
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater)........................63,114
Non-mortal Woundings..........................................204,002
Living Veterans..................................................0
VIETNAM WAR
(1964 - 1975)
Total Servicemembers (Worldwide)....................8,744,000
Battle Deaths.............................................................47,434
Other Deaths (in Theater)..........................................10,786
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater)..................32,000
Non-mortal Woundings...........................................153,303
Living Veterans....................................................7,569,000
KOREAN WAR
(1950 - 1953)
Total Servicemembers (Worldwide)....................5,720,000
Battle Deaths.............................................................33,739
Other Deaths (in Theater)................................2,835
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater).....................17,672
Non-mortal Woundings...........................................103,284
Living Veterans.....................................................2,507,000
GULF WAR
(1990 - 1991)
Total Servicemembers (Worldwide)....................2,322,000
Battle Deaths...................................................................148
Other Deaths (in Theater)...............................................235
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater)..........................1,565
Non-mortal Woundings..................................................467
Living Veterans..................................................2,246,002
GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR