Tag : Focus

Do you stop, pause, and count your blessings on Memorial Day?

Do you know people who have served in the military to keep you free?

My dad was in World War II, but he never talked about it.
I grew up in Delaware near Dover Air Force base, so military
presence was part of my everyday life. Those C5′s, largest transport
planes on the planet, are incredible. This photo was taken in Dover
when I took Mom to see the spring flowers. Don’t you love serendipity?

I worked for the Army in Germany during the Vietnam era.
With Captain Robert Echols, my CEO, and Master Sgt. Juan Garcia,
we created the Army’s first Community Drug and Alcohol Assistance Center.
We had no chain of command and answered to Europe’s only 2-star General Munson.

I was the civilian head of all the dedicated drug therapists and had a caseload of 5
units to serve myself. We busted our butts to help guys get off of drugs and alcohol
after they came back from Nam. I loved every minute of it. If it hadn’t been my
passionate goal to get my Ph.D., I would have enlisted.
I loved our teamwork and sense of mission.

The Army offered me the opportunity for perhaps the biggest honor of my life.
At 23, and I was too young to appreciate it, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, General Creighton Abrams, asked me my opinions re: our program and
what else he could do to help our troops. I was scared at first as I was the only
civilian he requested. It was “batter up” with bases full!

After we began to talk for what was supposed to be a short meeting,
I swear we animatedly buzzed on for a couple hours. He listened with incredible
focus. I was so naive, I rattled away as if we were best friends.
That’s when he gave me the gift…

He handed me his card and asked meto come to Washington to work for him!
I professed my humble gratitude, but grad school trumped all else.
I tried to contact him a few years ago to express my appreciation,
but he had passed. I will honor him forever.

My life has been great, but his generous offer, I still appreciate!

Did you ever wonder if you had taken an opportunity, what
would have shifted in your life?

Who would you salute today?

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