Ret. Col. Walpert Speaks to Students About Importance of Thanking Veterans
Ret. Col. William Walpert, father to Allison ’23, spoke to middle and upper school students about the importance of thanking a veteran at today’s Veterans Day Program. The student-led event was put on by Allison '23 and Hannah G. '22, co-presidents of the Future Military Leaders Club.
Walpert dedicated 26 years of service to the United States Air Force before retiring last year. In his address, he spoke about the three reasons why he thinks it’s important to thank our veterans and why it can be difficult for a veteran to be thanked for their service.
Walpert dedicated 26 years of service to the United States Air Force before retiring last year. In his address, he spoke about the three reasons why he thinks it’s important to thank our veterans and why it can be difficult for a veteran to be thanked for their service.
“No other country in the world thanks their veterans like we do,” said Walpert. “No other country has a sense of patriotism like we do or stops their members in uniforms and thanks them,” he said.
Why?
- We have an all-volunteer force.
“After Vietnam, we shifted our military to a volunteer force,” said Walpert. “We now have the greatest fighting force in the world, and we’re the protectors of the world. And because of that, we are unique and powerful.
- There’s a growing divide between those who serve and those who they serve.
“An unexpected outcome of an all-volunteer force has been a growing divide between those who serve and the rest of our society,” said Walpert. “Currently, about 4/10th of our population serves. And of those, about 80% come from a family where someone has served. Over time, that has become an ever-decreasing circle of families who are inspiring their children to grow up and join the military…I think we can work together to bridge that divide.”
- There is real sacrifice expected and demanded of those who wear a uniform.
“Workers in a non-military environment have an inherent right to a safe workplace,” he said. “In the military, it’s not so. We’re not only asked, but required to do things that are unsafe, to put ourselves in harm’s way and to take the lives of others at the behest of our government. That’s a huge responsibility, and we don’t take it lightly…It also means that you’re willing, you have signed up and agreed to be willing, to sacrifice everything up to your life because you were told to. It’s certainly a unique of a career choice in America. And I think Americans appreciate that and that they should and it’s right.”
“That’s why it’s important to acknowledge that veterans serve, that they serve you and to appreciate the impact of that service.”
