Next Level Blog
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Memorial Day Weekend Reprise May 27 2011
As we move into the unofficial beginning of Summer in the United States with the start of Memorial Day weekend, I want to give a reprise to a post I ran at the beginning of last year, What I Learned on an Aircraft Carrier. As is often noted, only two percent of the U.S. population serves in the military that provides protection for us around the globe. As part of the 98 percent who rely on the two percent, I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity last year to see firsthand how good these professionals are at their jobs.
So, in the midst of the swimming pools opening, the cookouts and the fun this weekend, let’s take a little time to stop and say, “Thank you for your service,” to the active duty and retired men and women of the U.S. armed forces. As we’ve seen again and again, they do amazing work for us in very challenging conditions.
Scott Eblin is an executive coach, speaker and author of 
Scott,
I thoroughly enjoy and learn much from your blog. I would also like to thank you for posting about the men and women of our armed forces. I do believe that futuristically you may want to include those who have served, yet are not currently active duty or retired. I don't know what additional percentage of today's population honorably served across the globe, but we did make up that 2% at one point and time. Thanks for providing great blog and the opportunity to respond.
God bless our troops!
Noting your post, please don’t forget the countless veterans who continue to serve in our communities, local, municipal, state, and also in the federal government. They deserve our recognition and thanks for a job well done as well as a thank you for their continued service to this nation “in a different uniform” ..
As one of the many federal employee's who read your posts,I count myself within that 98%. I feel that much of what any government employee brings to their lives of "service to others" have strong roots in the skills and abilities that were gleaned from our time in the service in the Armed Forces of this great nation.
You are always asking about how much we have learned or what we have seen. My sense is that the truest measure of a lesson well learned is how far a person will go to provide that level of service. What they will actually do to deliver their service with dignity and respect that has been earned and is deserved by each customer of any government service or agency.
Our responsibility and trust may not always be seen as “fairness” however we did not write the laws as they exist yet we are charged with administering to them. In this regard you will find no more faithful servent than a former member of the military.
Veterans both young and old(er) who are employed across our government know all about what is needed, and making do with what we have, and we work each day to do all that we can to “make it happen” for the members of our community and for each and every citizen of this great nation.
Semper Fi ..
James Flanagan
USMC 1975 – 1979
jffinpa@gmail.com