Veterans Day

I had the opportunity to speak at my son's school today during their Veterans Day assembly and thought I would share my notes here.

Ladies & gentlemen, students, veterans, good morning.

My name is Ben Bradley and I served in the US Army from 2004 to 2008. I’m humbled to be speaking with you today and doubly so because I get to talk about something so important to me.

Around Veteran’s Day, we hear a lot about the service and sacrifice of veterans and certainly that’s something to be acknowledged and honored. I want to take a moment to recognize another group of people though, whose service and sacrifice to our nation is less well known, but no less important.

The families and loved ones of those veterans.

Perhaps some of you here today have loved ones that are far away keeping us all safe. To you, especially, I want to say, “Thank you.” The weeks and months that you’re apart from your loved one are not unnoticed or unappreciated.

I hear that “Courage” is this year’s theme here at Riverview.

There’s a funny thing about courage. People seem to think that being courageous means not being afraid. I want to challenge that idea. In fact, I think it’s not possible to be courageous unless you’re first afraid.

If you aren’t afraid to do something, then it takes no courage to do it. If, however, you’re afraid to do something and you move out and get it done anyway, even though you’re afraid, that takes courage.

Students, when you feel that fear creeping up on you, when you start to feel afraid, here’s what I want you to do. I want you to say to yourself, “Good.” I want you to be excited for the chance to be courageous. I want you to move forward and do the thing that scares you.

Be courageous even though you’re afraid.

Be courageous because you’re afraid.