These American heroes show us how our values can overcome our division | Opinion
Division is easy. We see it everywhere, in our politics, our neighborhoods, even around our dinner tables. We’ve become so accustomed to disagreeing — and disagreeing badly — that we’ve forgotten how to move past it. Often, we let our differences distract us from what truly matters.
This Veterans Day, we have the chance to not only honor those who have served our country, but also to learn a powerful and timely lesson from them. Veterans remind us of the importance of character values and the strength of unity.
If you’ve visited the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, you know it’s more than a tribute to our nation’s bravest heroes. It’s a living classroom on character values. The Medal of Honor embodies six core values that built this nation, including courage, commitment and integrity. Could these character values be the key to healing the virulent division among us?
Change in America starts with the individual. Policy and politics have their important place in making our home better, but real change starts with you. If, today, everyone identified three character values to exhibit daily, we would see a dramatic shift in every aspect of our country. We won’t uphold these values perfectly, but perfection isn’t the goal. Humanity is.
When Arlington was vying to be the home of the Medal of Honor Museum against major cities such as Denver and Washington, city leaders invited the selection committee for the museum to visit. One of the most compelling moments of that visit was when Medal of Honor recipients Senior Chief Britt Slabinski, Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady and Capt. William Swenson spoke at a dinner.
They didn’t speak about their acts of bravery or the reasons they received the award. They spoke passionately about their dedication to spreading the values the medal represents. They said these values reside within each one of us. They said these values are a choice we make daily. They emphasized that they were just ordinary individuals called upon to do extraordinary deeds.
Perhaps what’s most remarkable about Medal of Honor recipients is that they don’t just embody admirable character values. They did it during the most stressful and dangerous moments of their lives. When they were under fire, in captivity or facing impossible odds, they chose principle over comfort, others over self.
Veterans also show us the importance of unity and remind us that unity does not mean sameness. On the battlefield, it doesn’t matter where your brother or sister in arms grew up or how he or she votes. It’s about fighting together, bound by a mission bigger than yourselves. Few of us will ever face the conditions these heroes did, but that doesn’t exempt us from following their example.
When pressure mounts at work, do you continue your job according to your values? If your dinner table is divided, do you remember the bigger purpose of gathering your family together? When you disagree with your neighbor, do you look for common ground?
Fewer than .01% of Americans have ever received a Medal of Honor, but these heroes’ stories are a lesson for all. Our veterans don’t just protect our freedom; they model the character and unity that can rebuild our nation from within. That is their legacy. Is there a better way to honor their service than to follow their lead?
This Veterans Day, you can practice courage, commitment and integrity. Today, you have a choice: division or unity.
W. Jeff Williams, a former Arlington mayor, is chief executive of civil engineering firm Graham Associates and author of “The Unity Blueprint.” He led the bid that landed the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington.
