I wrote this for my staff at a time where it was increasingly difficult to be a Federal employee. Many of the situations we are facing at the time of this writing remind me of my time serving with 3d ACR supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and I thought passing that along helpful. Based on the response, I was right. I’m sharing here in case it’s helpful to you as well.
For the better part of a decade, it’s been my privilege to write a message about this upcoming holiday. Instructing non-military colleagues on the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day, sharing personal experiences, or helping other share theirs – all valid and valuable efforts.
This time hits a little differently.
Memorial Day – equal parts ceremony and celebration – provides time for reflection, but also the chance to relax and unwind. Most of all, Memorial Day is about loss. And we lost.
Not in the same way veterans have – it would be delusional to claim otherwise – but the losses that our organization experienced recently are undoubtedly impactful. We lost 25% of our staff, in some areas much more, impacting our team’s ability to function. It certainly impacts the culture those teams developed over time. We’ve lost trusted colleagues, mentors, and friends. And while we can still reach out to them on whatever social media platform, they aren’t here anymore. We miss them. It is that feeling that makes this message different.
As much as this sense of loss aligns with the purpose of this holiday, how we choose to deal with it should also. I lost six during my time in Iraq. But in every case, covering down on tasks and accepting additional responsibilities, rebuilding team chemistry, using this challenge to discover new ways to operate, were the things I did to persevere. They were also done by those that wore all manners of uniforms in different eras in different places after remarkable and sometimes unfathomable events. There are lessons to be learned here.
What is not often written about or shown on the History Channel is the care shown to each other during and after times of loss. Listening to others instead of waiting for your turn to speak. Sincerely asking “How are you?”. Offering a hand, making sure your troops have extra water, delivering mail personally, the little things that show you care are so important in times like those.
We can use that example. Offer a second review of a document, attend a meeting on someone’s behalf, bring donuts to the office. Listen. It is this I ask of you – be gracious to each other, be graceful in our work, and remember the Mission and how valuable it is.
At 3:00pm local time, wherever you happen to be and whatever you happen to be doing, take a moment of silent reflection. Perhaps with additional appreciation for not only those we remember but those that carried on.
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