By Aaron Hansen, Assistant National Director

May is a big month for our U.S. armed forces. We have Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day. Armed Forces Day is to honor and pay tribute to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, honoring the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving United States.

 

The pressures on our military families cannot go unrecognized. Many families of our fallen soldiers take time over this month to visit cemeteries and memorials to place flags and flowers on the graves of loved ones. Many don’t stop there; they visit the graves of others, as well.  It’s important to remember the sacrifices made for our country, the loved ones lost and the families that are forever affected by loss. Every year, the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stirs me.

This Memorial Day, while honoring the fallen, I plan to take time also to reflect on our shared core values. Military service teaches invaluable lessons: young individuals learn about commitment, trust, teamwork and solidarity. Military service also means sacrifice. Many of those core values translate well into the workplace and into union membership. After all, our military cannot function as individuals each with their own agenda, but as a group pursuing common objectives.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A union works much the same – we work collectively to achieve our aims. We fight for the rights of our members, much like our military fights for the rights of others. We support one another. Our level of commitment to the group and to our goals can often determine outcomes.

With that military camaraderie and union solidarity could be seen as going hand in hand. As technicians, we go on road trips together and work on some pretty intense issues as a team.  Being all on the same page as a group is valuable for us as it builds strength in our membership.

So this May, remember our military and honor their service. Their sacrifice is in service of our freedom and we should never forget.