Veterans Day 2024: The Power of Service

Good morning. When Mr. Maisel first asked if I would say a few words today, my immediate impulse was to say no. I’ve never taken to public speaking. In fact, the last time I was in this room speaking in front of people I was giving my 8th grade speech. I wasn’t a fan of public speaking then and not much has changed. 

But, a good friend of mine who also happens to be an English teacher and a Marine, once told me, “Anytime you’re asked to speak about your service you have an obligation to say yes.” He added that you should take that opportunity to share stories about the people you served with and not waste the moment talking only about yourself. So, I’m going to do my best to follow his advice and spend most of my time today talking about some veterans who inspire me. 

But, for those of you who don’t know who I am, I’m Mr Caltrider. I teach English in the upper school. And between High School and college I served in the military - as did a number of other faculty members.

I joined the Marines when I was 18. It was something I’d been cautiously curious about since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until 2004 that I seriously considered it. I was in eighth grade, here, when a Boys’ Latin alum — Nic Ziolkowski — was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq. The same place where Mr. Bowman fought. At the time, I didn’t understand any of the politics surrounding the two wars we were involved in. All I knew was that following 9/11, the nation asked for volunteers to go into harm’s way, and Nic answered that call. I thought that was an honorable thing. I still do. His sacrifice stuck in my mind, and when I was nearing the end of high school, I felt called to serve. 

But when I enlisted, it was mostly for selfish reasons. I wasn’t really looking forward to sitting in college lecture halls or spending four more years confined to a classroom. Instead, I wanted to do stuff like drive cool vehicles, ride in helicopters, and shoot machine guns. I also thought the Dress Blue uniform might help convince the girl I liked to go on a date with me — It worked by the way, and we ended up getting married. On a deeper level, I joined because I wanted to be tested in ways I’d never been tested in a classroom or on an athletic field. 

But while many service members — if they’re being honest with themselves — do join, in part for selfish reasons, most of them also go through a sort of shift at some point in their military career. 

Their goals and priorities change. I can’t point to a specific moment when it happened for me or the guys I served with, but we all began to prioritize the group’s welfare over our own. Being of service eventually became the driving factor in everything we did. This change happens to everyone who has a successful time in the military, and it happens naturally because your very survival can depend on it. I didn’t realize my priorities had shifted like that until I transitioned from active duty to being a veteran. 

The most difficult part of that transition back to the civilian world is realizing that most people don’t have that same outlook that you’re accustomed to. We live in a society that celebrates individual achievement and ambition and getting plucked from a culture that emphasizes teamwork over everything else can make for a rough adjustment period. However, the difficulty of that adjustment has been warped into stereotypes by the stories we often see about veterans. 

When I tell people I’m a veteran, the reaction I get usually falls into one of two categories:

Either I’m met with an outpouring of ‘Thank Yous’ and praise from people eager to show their gratitude — which I’m grateful for — but they give it without any context about what my job was, where I went, or what my experiences were. 

Or, it’s met with an uncomfortable conversation, as if the military is taboo or that they need to walk on eggshells and avoid sensitive subjects. They unintentionally frame the conversation as if I’m a victim of serving in the military. Both reactions feel inappropriate to me. I’m not deserving of praise for nonexistent battlefield heroics. And I’m certainly not a victim of my service. That period of my life gave me some of my fondest memories, sweetest victories, and most fulfilling relationships. But that second reaction, that awkward space that develops, is not anyone’s fault. Veterans are guilty of competing in the victim olympics. I’ve been guilty of it at times. And I think it comes from the fact we’ve been telling stories that frame veterans as victims for thousands of years. 

The Odyssey — written sometime between 750 and 650 BCE — is a lot of things, but at its core it’s a story about a war veteran who struggles to come home. The stories we share about veterans haven’t changed much in the 2,000 or so years since. Whether it’s Rambo not being able to mentally come home from Vietnam or Chris Kyle, “The American Sniper,” returning from Iraq only to go to a bar instead of to his waiting wife and kids. That’s the most common narrative we share about veterans: They go to war and they never fully come home. 

When Mr. Maisel asked me to speak today, he told me to reflect on what Veteran’s Day means to me. I don’t think I can articulate what it means to me, but that narrative of veterans Not being able to come home is the misconception I hope to change before we all leave here and get on with our day. Because the veterans in my life are so much more than victims of their service. Not only did they reintegrate into their communities after their time in the military, but the majority of them stand as examples the rest of us can look to for inspiration on how to be advocates for peace and how to better serve our communities. 

Both of my grandfathers were Navy veterans. My dad’s dad fixed radars and scraped paint on an aircraft carrier during the Korean War. After the war, he used the discipline he’d developed in the Navy and put himself through night school. He went to class each night after working all day and without sacrificing time with his children. He studied business and eventually built a successful company here in Baltimore. 

My other grandfather was a dentist in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He served for 30 years before retiring. But even after he left the Navy, he never stopped serving. He was a leader in his church, he helped run a local theater, and volunteered his time to help create summer camps for kids. Both of them showed me how the military can instill a pride in serving others that lasts long after hanging up the uniform. But no one in my life has shown me more about what it means to be a veteran — and how to continue serving — than my friend Clark. 

On Easter Sunday, 2011, my unit was finishing up a mission in southern Afghanistan. On our way back to base, my friend Clark was catastrophically wounded. His injuries were so severe he should not have survived. In fact, he died several times on the helicopter flight to the hospital. But everytime his heart failed, the medics were able to bring him back. He spent the next four years in the hospital, undergoing countless surgeries, but he survived. 

Despite losing his legs, Clark never slowed down. He now owns his own home, he has a job, and he has a beautiful girlfriend. He's also the captain of his Ice Hockey team, and he’s completed the Boston Marathon 4x. I hope that inspires you. It certainly inspires me. 

But what I find most inspiring about Clark, is that he continues to prioritize serving others. He’s involved in a number of charities and nonprofits. And he makes a point to volunteer in his community whenever he can. 

He refuses to be labeled a victim, and he refuses to stop serving. That is the part of Clark that deserves our admiration. 

Now, I’ve made a lot of sweeping generalizations about veterans so far, but the truth is, veterans are as diverse as any large demographic. However, I think Clark’s story is a much more accurate representation of your typical veteran than the 2-dimensional stereotypes we so often see in movies and TV. 

Let’s remember that today was born out of Armistice Day, and should be celebratory, not somber. On Veterans Day, make an effort to reach out to the veterans in your life - your family, friends, coaches, teachers, whoever. Seek them out. Ask them about their service. Find out what their job was and if they traveled anywhere. Ask them what their fondest memory of their time in uniform is. Let them know you value their service. Then, ask how they continue to serve. Whenever I speak to a veteran about their service, I always come away feeling inspired to work harder and be grateful for the opportunities I have. 

I hope that today, and every Veterans Day, you each take a moment for self-reflection. Remind yourself that serving is a privilege and think of ways you can be of more service to the communities you’re a part of. 

Thank you. Happy Veterans Day. 
And to the Marines in the room, Happy Birthday and Semper Fidelis.

Click here to watch the video:  https://youtu.be/IBplyt2LbwA?si=5sHLt1jhMAy9svMw