Reflecting on and Remembering Our Veterans

Dear MGH Institute Community:

When retirement is on the horizon, the list of final duties, tasks, and moments comes into focus, and my annual Veterans Day note to the MGH Institute community is one of them.

It’s a note I’ve enjoyed crafting and sharing with you because it ties together what makes the Institute special: service, reflection, care, gratitude, and compassion.

MGH Institute students, faculty, staff, and alumni are among the millions of Americans who have served as members of the United States Uniformed Services. As we mark Veterans Day, we thank them for protecting our democracy while recognizing their courage, service, and sacrifice. These are the people who ensure the freedoms we should never take for granted.

Nor should we ever forget what this country has gone through to get here. One hundred seven years ago today, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, World War I — known as the Great War — officially ended, but not before an astounding loss of life; eight million soldiers would die over four years. Think about that: eight million lives.

The day the war concluded in 1918 was called Armistice Day but was renamed to Veterans Day in 1954 to include all veterans in all wars. And here we are today, with our security of our country intact, thanks to the brave individuals who protected the ideals we cherish most.

Today is a time to reflect on these patriots and think about what they risked — and what they gave up. Yes, some veterans are enjoying normal lives, but the scars of war have left others impaired physically, psychologically, or both. As a healthcare community, we need to always keep these veterans in mind and work to get them the help they need.

There are two ways you can mark Veterans Day:

• Think about where the United States would be without its veterans
• If you see a veteran, say “Thank you for your service.” They have earned that recognition, and so much more.

With admiration and thanks to our MGH Institute veterans,
Paula