Tremendous Tracey
What Are You Willing to Fight For?
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things," wrote John Stuart Mill—a quote we memorized as cadets at the Air Force Academy. Recently, I've heard colleagues express alarm about military strength, as if preparedness itself were the problem. But here's what they miss: weakness invites aggression. Always has. Always will. As someone who wore the uniform, I understand what Mill meant: the decay isn't in the soldier who stands ready to fight. The decay is in the soul that thinks nothing is worth fighting for. This Veterans Day, I'm grateful that despite all the noise and criticism of this nation, young men and women are still stepping forward to serve. Thank God for them.
Veterans are Tremendous
The military taught me duty and conscientiousness. Aircraft maintenance taught me safety, production scheduling, quality assurance, and logistics. And my enlisted folks taught me how to be a good leader, how to trust my troops, and how to make decisions. I know from living all over the world how incredibly blessed we are in this country. As a global citizen speaking with those who need our help, I know how thankful people are when we are there to protect them. And I know how proud my parents were of me that I decided to earn my stripes.
