I have tried to make a point to thank our men and women who have served in our military. (I hope) I do this whenever I find out they were indeed a member of our armed forces. On Veterans Day, we are afforded an even more wonderful opportunity (translation: "reminder") to do this. While I jumped the gun on our company blog by erroneously posting two days too early, I thought I would use this space today to thank my favorite veteran, Mike Massey (aka "Dad").
My dad served in the Army from 1966 to 1969, including one tour in Vietnam. Having come from a family with little money and no breadwinner (his father - my grandfather - died of a stroke when my dad was 11), he enlisted in the Army. His yearbook bio forecasted his future: he wanted to go into business management, and my dad saw the Army as a way to learn leadership, integrity and discipline. As well as the opportunity to go to school, thanks to the GI Bill.
My dad seldom talks about his tour in Vietnam. What I was always told growing up was that he "went to war so I didn't have to." Well, he was right. I am from a lucky generation that was never faced with a draft. But I am also fortunate that his time spent in the armed services allowed him to go to school, enter the business world, become a success, and teach me the business I am in today.
Thank you, Dad, for your service to our Country, and to our Family!
Note: My dad is no longer in the Army or under any allusions that he is. The picture above is him in natural habitat: outdoors in the wild and hunting with friends!
Comments(1)