This Veteran’s Day, Jeff Van Fleet, Lightouse’s President and CEO, has a simple message for those that have served or are still serving in our nation’s armed forces: thank you.
Photo by Paul Morse, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library
| I struggle to put into words the dichotomy of the peaceful lives we experience with those who provide it. All I can think to say is thank you. |
On Veteran’s Day, I am thinking about the thousands that have served and are currently serving our country.
Few things are more deserving of our honor than the sacrifices and choices made by those that serve. I have never been in the military, so I am sure I’ll never fully understand all that they do for us. However, I have taken some time to talk with some soldiers one-on-one, and I’ve began to understand their sacrifice a little better. I don’t mean to broad-brush this and lump everyone together, but in my conversations (granted, this is post draft days), a common theme comes forward — their commitment is a choice.
They choose to put their lives on the line and protect our freedom. They choose to train with live ammo, accepting the dangers that come with it. They choose to go down into a submarine with a hundred other souls, knowing that they may never breathe fresh air again. They choose to go to Iraq and Afghanistan because they feel pride in what they do and in the impact they are having. They choose to protect us and their families and the ideals that we stand for. What I think I know is that their sacrifices are conscious (and very often life-altering) decisions. They choose.
We, who have not served, cannot understand this. We may have lost loved ones, but they have seen things that cannot be unseen. They have trained hard and are proud of what they have accomplished; but, more importantly, are proud to protect us and our freedoms. They feel the pressure and anxiety of performing; and then the difficult task of somehow re-assimilating into our society. I struggle to put into words the dichotomy of the peaceful lives we experience with those who provide it. A tear comes to my eye as I think of them, and all I can think to say is — thank you.
Thank you Dad, Les, Uncle Robbie, Aunt Trean, Uncle George, Steve, Treena & Todd, Adam, and Scott. Thank you.
If you haven’t had time to do so today, please take a moment to thank someone you know who has served or is currently serving in our amazing military. They’ll never ask for it, but they certainly deserve it.
Keep having fun,
Jeff Van Fleet
President and CEO
Lighthouse Technologies, Inc.
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