Kaymanism
08-24-2007, 21:45
So all in all graduation was a very cool experience. NOTHING like bootcamp but then again we didnt have to train for it either. I wanted to extend a warm thank you to all of the instructors and personnel that came by to make it an even more meaningful experience.
I was not going to post this, however the valedictorian seemed to make no bones about me writing the speech for her, so I figured I would post it here and let you guys read what we had to say today.
Good luck to everyone going through school now. Unfortunately with SOOO many changes occurring (hell I could barely keep track while I was there) I wont be as strong of a force in terms of help but I am sure I can help with curriculum specific questions or ones to help you succeed while there.
Without further ado...
Good morning distinguished guests, ladies and gentelman.
Let me first extend a warm welcome to the parents, families and friends of the graduating corpsman today. During my time in the fleet I have not only been inspired by the selfless service of our sailors but equally humbled by the sacrifice of their families. While your sacrifice is rarely thanked, and often ignored, it is no less appreciated and absolutely needed.
As I look around this room today I feel not only inspired but also awe struck at the presence of so many outstanding corpsman. It is these corpsman that have lead us, often by the hand, sometimes kicking and screaming, not us but them, to our success today. I am of course talking about our instructors. (she thanked many instructors here)
Which brings me to the real reason we are ALL here today. I go from those who have already made great moments in our illustrious Corps school history to those of us about to make some of our own.
I of course am speaking of todays graduating corpsman! (insert class number here or something to make us stand out)
Through times of extreme change, often accompanied by confusion and even chaos, you have excelled in a highly competitive program. We have seen a few failures along the way, well maybe more than a few but we have also seen our fair share of success as well. But I urge all of you not to stop here. We MUST continue to excel not only on an intellectual and physical level, but to also continuously strive for the highest moral caliber possible. As Coit Blacker, special assistant to the president once said 'Be useful. Be humble. Act honorably. And give of yourself until it hurts' Never could truer words be said about our beloved Navy Corpsman.
Today will be the last time many of us see each other. Some of us will be in hospitals, others on ships, and most of you will be heading to Iraq with the Marines. It is this final group that I want to pay special attention to right now. Remember that it is difficult when you are in the moment, to really appreciate the moment. To truly understand the significance of your decision, and the decisions of those on your left and on your right. What you are about to embark on, very few people will truly be able to understand, unless they have done it themselves. While you are there and for when you come back I leave you the wise words of Rudyard Kipling "If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you. The world will be yours and everything in it, what's more, you'll be a man, my son."
Thank You.
I was not going to post this, however the valedictorian seemed to make no bones about me writing the speech for her, so I figured I would post it here and let you guys read what we had to say today.
Good luck to everyone going through school now. Unfortunately with SOOO many changes occurring (hell I could barely keep track while I was there) I wont be as strong of a force in terms of help but I am sure I can help with curriculum specific questions or ones to help you succeed while there.
Without further ado...
Good morning distinguished guests, ladies and gentelman.
Let me first extend a warm welcome to the parents, families and friends of the graduating corpsman today. During my time in the fleet I have not only been inspired by the selfless service of our sailors but equally humbled by the sacrifice of their families. While your sacrifice is rarely thanked, and often ignored, it is no less appreciated and absolutely needed.
As I look around this room today I feel not only inspired but also awe struck at the presence of so many outstanding corpsman. It is these corpsman that have lead us, often by the hand, sometimes kicking and screaming, not us but them, to our success today. I am of course talking about our instructors. (she thanked many instructors here)
Which brings me to the real reason we are ALL here today. I go from those who have already made great moments in our illustrious Corps school history to those of us about to make some of our own.
I of course am speaking of todays graduating corpsman! (insert class number here or something to make us stand out)
Through times of extreme change, often accompanied by confusion and even chaos, you have excelled in a highly competitive program. We have seen a few failures along the way, well maybe more than a few but we have also seen our fair share of success as well. But I urge all of you not to stop here. We MUST continue to excel not only on an intellectual and physical level, but to also continuously strive for the highest moral caliber possible. As Coit Blacker, special assistant to the president once said 'Be useful. Be humble. Act honorably. And give of yourself until it hurts' Never could truer words be said about our beloved Navy Corpsman.
Today will be the last time many of us see each other. Some of us will be in hospitals, others on ships, and most of you will be heading to Iraq with the Marines. It is this final group that I want to pay special attention to right now. Remember that it is difficult when you are in the moment, to really appreciate the moment. To truly understand the significance of your decision, and the decisions of those on your left and on your right. What you are about to embark on, very few people will truly be able to understand, unless they have done it themselves. While you are there and for when you come back I leave you the wise words of Rudyard Kipling "If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you. The world will be yours and everything in it, what's more, you'll be a man, my son."
Thank You.