High School Blog

“Thank you for your service.” This is the greeting I get when someone finds out I served in the Army, especially around Veterans Day. This is both honoring and humbling to me. First, I am honored to have been able to serve in the military. Serving and being a veteran is not just something we do; It’s a way of life, and it’s a part of who we are. There are many veterans around you who have answered the call to serve, and I feel honored to be counted among those. Second, I am humbled because I do not see myself as someone who is special, just someone who did my job to the best of my ability.

When I greet a veteran, I shake their hand, look them in the eye, and tell them, “Thank you for your sacrifice.” Those who have served have had to make many sacrifices during their service—sacrifices such as missing birthdays and anniversaries, first and last days of school, sporting and family events, and births and deaths. This is something veterans and their families have to accept as part of answering the call to serve our country.

Veterans Day reminds me of Jesus’ words in John 15:13 (NIV), “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” To me, being a veteran means a commitment to this kind of brotherly love, and I’m grateful for Jesus’ ultimate example in this. This Veterans Day, I hope you will find a veteran, shake their hand, look them in the eye, and say, “Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.”

Sgt. Maj. Michael G Hawkins (Ret.)