Veterans Day
Honoring America's Heroes
Incredible ceremony today at Bentonville West honoring our veterans. From the Color Guard and choir to the tributes for the faculty who’ve worn the uniform, it was a privilege to come together and salute those who’ve served America. Watch full event above.
This morning, every one of us hit the lottery by waking up in the greatest country on the planet. We have the great fortune of living in a nation where so many have fought and died to protect the idea of liberty the United States embodies.
How blessed are we knowing that, generation after generation, we have people willing to serve to defend the ability for us to have a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people?
Arkansans are proud and thankful for those who wear the uniform. It was a privilege to be with Founders Classical Academy students today as they hosted their Veterans Day Assembly, and I was pleased to have my friend and former Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy talk to Third District students during the event as well. Watch the ceremony here.
Whether in combat or in peacetime, Veterans Day is for every patriot who has donned America’s uniform. Each one swearing an oath to go anywhere, at any time, and fight any foe—willing to risk their lives for something bigger than themselves. They are the true heroes of America.
Throughout history, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and now members of the Space Force have established a legacy as the finest fighting force in the world. These men and women come from all walks of life, all backgrounds and ethnicities, all religions, and all political persuasions. It represents the genius of America and reminds us of our motto, “E Pluribus Unum,” meaning “Out of Many, One.” Just as America symbolizes the many states coming together as one nation, our all-volunteer force brings together many people to help ensure one thing: that our nation’s freedom endures.
I appreciated being able to thank my fellow veterans who are now educators and school staff members for their service.
The inspiration of the Soldier’s Creed is emblematic of the commitment our servicemen and women make on behalf of America.
I will always place the mission first
I will never accept defeat
I will never quit
I will never leave a fallen comrade
These aren’t mere words. They are a fixed contract our service members have made and demonstrate service above self at all costs.
Our next generation of service members are inspired by those who came before them. Proud of these JROTC students.
Our veterans embody the values that have made our country great – valor, honor, and love of country. I recently ran into Bruce Crandall, a prime example of this fact. I made sure to introduce him to my grandson Kaden because I wanted him to meet a great hero. While I know Kaden is only 9 years old and may not fully comprehend the impact of that exact moment, I will continue to remind him of the memory and the story behind the person.
You see, Bruce was a helicopter pilot. His heroics were numerous, but it was his work during the Battle of Ia Drang that earned him the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military award for valor. Despite the heavy enemy fire, Crandall—and another helicopter piloted by Maj. Ed Freeman—flew back to the battle zone area in unarmed helicopters, delivered much-needed ammunition, and began loading their choppers with seriously wounded soldiers.
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We are blessed to live in a region that boasts a longstanding tradition of military service. I loved seeing Third District student projects at Bright Field Middle School honoring the military service of their family members.
Crandall did that flight more than 20 times. He started in the morning and did not stop flying until late into the evening. His actions are credited with evacuating some 70 wounded comrades.
These actions—not done in a want of fame or glory—but rooted in the above creed and love of country. That’s the meaning of this day.
I shared his story and paid tribute to our veterans with multiple groups of students this week. From Bentonville West High School and Bright Field Middle School to Thomas Jefferson Elementary and Founders Classical Academy, I joined multiple assemblies paying tribute to those who have served in our military.
Not everyone will wear the uniform—but we should all uphold the value of serving America somehow. We also should never miss an opportunity to thank our vets!
As I said to them, not everyone will wear the uniform—but we should all uphold the value of serving America somehow. I was also privileged to have former Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy visit the Fayetteville Campus of the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks (VHSO) to meet with veterans, regional organizations, and VHSO staff. We should also never miss an opportunity to thank and honor the men and women who risked their all to secure our sacred liberty.
So, we formally come together today as a nation to honor the brave men and women who served in our armed services. But we should never limit recognizing our veterans to one day – it should be deeply entwined into the fabric of our nation. Because without our service members, we would not have freedom.
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It was a blessing to join so many of our students to talk about the service of our troops and stories of our veterans. My own work in the National Guard taught me a lot. When I was deployed to Sinai, Egypt, I saw the loyalty, hard work, and commitment my fellow service members exemplified each day.
I will leave you with one of my favorite lines in America the Beautiful:
“O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!”
Former Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy and I visited the Fayetteville Campus of the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks (VHSO) to meet with veterans, regional organizations, and VHSO staff. We will always be grateful for the men and women who risked their all to secure our sacred liberty.
As today’s ceremonies and tributes come to an end, may we also think about ways to inspire service in ourselves and the next generation of Americans. While there will never be adequate words to share our gratitude, we can exemplify the spirit of service above self in our work and communities each day.
May God richly bless our veterans, our active service members, and the United States of America! |