Life, and The 10th Mountain Division – Deeds not Words

Deeds not words – Some time ago I was privileged to visit Fort Drum, NY, home of the 10th Mountain Division.  They have a memorial garden there for all the men and women who have died in combat.  In the midst of this beautiful garden is a plaque with a fitting description, “Deeds Not Words.”

This is a good thing to remember on this Memorial Day. It’s easy to spend a day barbequing while lounging by the lake or pool.  For a few minutes we can raise a beer, toast our deceased vets, and feel patriotic.  But these are words, what are our deeds?

To give your life for your fellow man is a sacrifice and action that can only come from the deepest commitments and motivations. In places like the mountains of Afghanistan, the jungles of Vietnam, the bloody beaches of Iwo Jima, and the brutally cold winter of the Battle of the Bulge, actions define the individual. Some of the greatest heroes I’ve met traveling our great country are the quietest, most unassuming people you will ever meet.  They spoke, and speak with their actions.

What actions are you doing to honor the freedoms our brave men and women in the military have fought for? How are you living your life?  Do you muddle through your day wishing you were doing something else?

Well, I believe that in a country where freedom still comes with a price, and you truly have the most opportunities of anywhere in the world, you owe it to everyone who has come before you to live a life of incredible purpose, passion, and joy.

Honor our fallen heroes not with words, but with actions.  Live your life with as much passion, purpose, and dedication as they gave theirs.

Deeds, not words.