True Lessons of Leadership

Yesterday as I made my way down the walkway at Tacoma's War Memorial Park for the 2009 Veterans' Day service, I felt uncomfortable. I thought it might have been because I had not worn a coat or gloves and the cold breeze coming across the Narrows seemed to chill me to the bone.

I was one of the first people to arrive, other than the Color Guard. It gave me the chance to observe others and to reflect upon my hesitancy for attending in the first place. Since I left the military 20 years ago last week after serving 15 years in two services, I had never been to any commemoration. (Read my military story here.)

I remember hearing stories from my uncle about his service in the Navy in Hilo, Hawaii. I loved watching the movies from the 1940s and '50s about fighting for all that was good and just and right. As a girl I never questioned our involvement in Vietnam because I was too young to truly understand. Had I been born five or ten years earlier, I might have been one of those young adults at Berkley who questioned it all and protested. It simply made sense to me to join the military and be ready to protect this country, if needed.

So many veterans who served during the Cold War have told me that they feel feel shame and guilt for not having served in any conflict-that their contribution in uniform only pales in comparison to that of our heroes of World War II and other wars. So often these are the veterans who make light of the time spent in uniform. They somehow feel caught between the public embarrassment of our military involved in Vietnam, keeping silent or numbing out while being ridiculed, and the military step taken into the Middle East when many had already left the service.

Though I was never embarrassed about my service during a period of peacetime, admittedly I grew weary of the comments heard over the years. Unsuccessfully I attempted too many times to restore any form of patriotism in others. I am sorry to say that I gave up twenty years ago and only recently have begun getting involved again in veteran issues.

It was serendipity to have found myself sitting in the front row yesterday with several of our WWII heroes--those who were in Guadalcanal, or were captured and survived the Bataan Death March, or the other folks who served. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.

I sat next to a Marine Captain, a two-time Purple Heart recipient who had served in Saipan, Tinian, Guadalcanal, and beyond. As he proudly wore his uniform as smartly as he had in the 1940s, I saw firsthand his emotion when the speaker talked of the numbers of men who had served and died during that war. He never once broke military bearing despite the obvious remembrance of the pain and sorrow.

I was humbled by each of their stories for the dedication and continued love of this country and why they made the choice to serve in uniform. And I finally understood the reasons why I joined the military. I did so because of the lessons of leadership and the values taught to me by their example.

Last night it also occurred to me that these heroes will not be here forever to represent themselves. When they are gone, I only hope and pray that what they stood for during their lives will be kept alive.

This is one veteran who will, once again, proudly stand and fight to make sure that all of our military heroes are never forgotten.