Funeral homes are a great study on this subject.  With many being “Generational” in nature, have you ever wondered why some generational funeral homes stay “status quo” as the next generation takes over and other funeral homes either decline or grow in success with the same generation leadership changes?

I think it is all about the “Leadership” that the next generation brings to the table.  In my view, “Leadership”, or the lack of it, more than any other trait or community change in demographics, is what gets funeral homes excelling in business or declining in business.

With that preface I will tell you that I read this article from the Passare blog titled “Five proven leadership lessons from a CEO“.  The article is a synopsis of an interview with Funeral Director’s Life CEO Kris Seale from the company’s podcast series “The Graveyard Shift”.  You can also access the podcast from the same link.

In his interview Seale brings five lessons that he has learned over the years. Here they are:

 

1. Culture is built by design
2. Hire for attitude, train for skill
3. One bad apple can spoil the culture
4. Share frequent constructive feedback
5. Leadership is more than a title.

 

In the article Seale expounds on each facet of his Five Proven Leadership Lessons and in the podcast you can hear him explain the leadership points in more detail.

The rise of “EQ” — For a long time most experts thought that the smarter one was, as measured by an Intelligence Quotient (IQ), the better at leading one would be.  That is now being challenged with many experts believing that “EQ”, or “Emotional Intelligence” is a greater predictor of success.

Here’s a short explanation from Gemini Artificial Intelligence, about the two and how the two factors can work together to display great leadership skills:

Both EQ (Emotional Quotient) and IQ (Intelligence Quotient) play significant roles in determining success, but they contribute to different aspects. 

IQ’s role

• IQ primarily assesses an individual’s cognitive abilities, such as logical reasoning, problem-solving, and the ability to acquire and apply knowledge.
• High IQ is associated with excelling in tasks that require analytical skills, complex problem-solving, and technical expertise.
• It’s a strong predictor of academic performance and success in roles that demand strong cognitive processing and technical knowledge. 

EQ’s role

• Emotional intelligence (EQ) refers to the ability to understand, manage, and utilize one’s own emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of others.
• Key components of EQ include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
• EQ is especially crucial in leadership, teamwork, communication, and navigating complex social situations.
• Studies suggest that EQ is a more significant predictor of success in many areas, particularly in leadership and interpersonal dynamics, than IQ alone.

Complementary forces

• Instead of viewing EQ and IQ as competing forces, they are best understood as complementary aspects of intelligence.
• IQ might open the door to opportunities, but EQ often determines how effectively individuals navigate their careers, build strong relationships, lead teams, and adapt to changing environments.
• Many employers now recognize the importance of both and prioritize candidates with a strong combination of IQ and EQ.
• Developing both cognitive and emotional intelligence leads to a more balanced and impactful professional journey.

In conclusion, while IQ is valuable for cognitive prowess and technical skills, EQ’s significance for overall success, particularly in leadership, teamwork, and navigating social complexities, is increasingly being recognized and valued. 

 

Related Article —  “EQ is a better predictor of success than IQ”.  MiTraining Blog (Australia)

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  I’m kind of a “Johnny-come-lately” to the EQ theory.  I had never heard of EQ until I started on the Board at the University of Minnesota.  But, I now believe that “Emotional Intelligence” is the foundational trait that builds a business.  In my opinion, to build a business into a success, one has to understand what is going on around him/her at all times  —  that recognition of surroundings is not something that a high IQ person will necessarily possess.

However, a high EQ person will have that recognition.  When I play golf if I am in a cart with the other golfer driving, if they always drive to their golf ball first and then say something like “Where’s your ball?” that’s an indication that they don’t have a very high EQ because they are never concerned with you until they have taken care of themselves.

Just my thought here. . . .but I don’t think I would put that person in a leadership position.  I want my leaders, or funeral home managers, to be concerned with their clients and their team members before they are concerned with themselves.

Servant Driven Leaders — Bob Upgren is a “Servant Driven Leader”.  I first met Bob Upgren when I owned a sports travel business and our company  led a college basketball all-star team on a 10-day exhibition tour of Europe in 1991.  Bob Upgren was a recent college graduate and member of the all-star team and I traveled with the team on this particular tour.

Today, Bob is one of the nation’s foremost speakers on Servant Leadership.  I keep the following graphic, which I was exposed to at one of his motivational speaking events, posted in my office to remind me of “Leadership”.  His motto is “We lead best when we serve first“.  I think that motto is a great moniker for leadership success. . . . .especially in the funeral business.

By the way, if you are ever looking for a motivational speaker for your group I have no better suggestion than Bob Upgren.  Here is his website.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

My wife sometimes accuses me of being too friendly.  You see, I’m okay in a crowded coffee shop or elsewhere, asking if I could share the table with already seated customers. . . .while Angie would simply leave the shop because it was too busy.

I try not to be intrusive on other people because I have times I don’t want to be bothered as well.  However, I’m met some great friends and had great discussions with strangers who were willing to share their table with me.

John Adams

One of those times was at the Baltimore Convention Center during the 2022 National Funeral Directors Convention.  I randomly sat down with two Brits attending the convention, one of whom I learned was Great Britain’s President of their National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), John Adams.

I learned that Adams works in a family-owned funeral home, Perry & Phillips, which you can read about here.  The business was founded in 1835.  In sitting down with Adams I learned a little of his background, including that his mother died when he was 12 years old.

That experience for him, as you can read about here, was a rallying cry for his term as President of NAFD.  Adams believed that a missing element for young people was the lack of learning about how death, dying, and bereavement can affect a child as he or she grows up.

During his preseidency and beyond, Adams pressed forward in his quest to have all children in Great Britain be taught about death,dying, grief, and bereavement.  He began a petition asking Parliament to look at that question as it continued to refine its public school requirements.  In addition, he met with King Charles to bring attention to the issue as you can read here.

There are now results —  Adams’ quest for children to learn that “Death is part of Life” has culminated with Adams being informed and Parliament now requiring that before a student finishes Primary School they must understand “That change and loss, including bereavement, can provoke a range of feelings, that grief is a natural response to bereavement, and that everyone grieves differently”.

Here are the new “General Requirements” for Primary School students in Great Britain to know in the “General Wellbeing category” effective September 1, 2026 (#8 is the new requirement that has been added):

Curriculum content:
1. The benefits of physical activity, time outdoors, and helping others for health,
wellbeing and happiness. Simple self-care techniques, including the importance of
rest, time spent with friends and family, as well as hobbies, interests and
community participation.
2. The importance of promoting general wellbeing and physical health.
3. The range and scale of emotions (e.g. happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise,
nervousness) that they might experience in different situations. Pupils should
understand that worrying and feeling down are normal, affect everyone at different
times, and are not in themselves a sign of a mental health condition.
4. How to recognise feelings and use varied vocabulary to talk about their own and
others’ feelings.
5. How to judge whether what they are feeling and how they are behaving is
appropriate and proportionate.
6. That isolation and loneliness can affect children, and the benefits of seeking
support.
7. That bullying (including cyberbullying) has a negative and often lasting impact on
mental wellbeing and how to seek help for themselves or others.
8. That change and loss, including bereavement, can provoke a range of feelings,
that grief is a natural response to bereavement, and that everyone grieves
differently.
9. Where and how to seek support (including recognising the triggers for seeking
support), including who in school they should speak to if they are worried about
their own or someone else’s mental wellbeing or ability to control their emotions
(including issues arising online).
10.That it is common to experience mental health problems, and early support can help.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  From my perspective, making children aware of the consequences of grief and bereavement is extremely important in society.  According to this article and video report from ABC News 1 in 12 children (8.3%) in America will experience the death of a parent before they turn 18 years of age.

According to Micki Burns, the co-author of the report cited in the ABC feature, “Children who have lost a parent can feel isolated because it’s difficult for other kids to understand grief and loss. Recognizing that [losing a parent or sibling] is prevalent is important.  It’s something that we need to start to talk about more openly and more easily so that the children don’t feel so isolated.”

As she intimates, knowing about grief, loss, and bereavement is not only a good thing for those that lose loved ones, it is important for those who are friends of the bereaved so that they know about the emotions and feelings of one who has lost a parent.

The ABC article mentions that in America, the state of West Virginia has the highest percentage of “childhood grief” at 13.3% of all children in the state while the state of Minnesota has the lowest percentage of childhood grief.  The article postulates that poverty and resources availability may be one of the factors in the difference.

Finally, again from my point of view,  I think the more that we can teach the “soft sciences” such as grief and bereavement to our children the better society we will live in.  From my experience on the Board of Regents at the University of Minnesota I found no shortage of scholars among our youth — We are in good hands in that regard.  However, many of those same students would ask about classes that would help them navigate life as to finances, mental health, and good living practices.  I was always disappointed that I could not get the powers that be to offer more classes in those disciplines . . . . .so, I’m extremely appreciative that John Adams has!!!

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

When the time comes to arrange a funeral—whether for a loved one or as part of planning ahead—it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing a funeral director. But how can you be sure you’re getting the best value—not just financially, but also in terms of compassion, service, and peace of mind?

At Archway Funeral Service, we believe that “best value” doesn’t simply mean the lowest cost. It means receiving the highest level of care and support, clear and honest pricing, and services tailored to your wishes and budget. Here’s how to ensure you’re getting just that.

1. Understand What “Best Value” Really Means

Best value comes from a balance of cost, service quality, and personal support. It’s about being treated with dignity, having your questions answered with clarity, and ensuring your wishes—or those of your loved one—are respected without pressure or confusion.

At Archway, we take pride in offering tailored, dignified funerals without hidden costs or sales tactics. We’re a local, independent family-run service—meaning we focus on people, not profits.

2. Ask for a Clear, Itemised Quote

Every reputable funeral director should be able to provide a full, itemised breakdown of costs upfront. This includes:

• Professional fees

• Cremation or burial charges

• Coffin choices

• Hearse and transportation

• Optional extras (flowers, notices, orders of service, etc.)

By law, all funeral directors in the UK must now follow the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) guidelines, including offering a Standardised Price List. Always ask to see this—it’s your right.

3. Check for Hidden Costs

Transparency is key. Some funeral firms advertise a low “starting from” price but then charge more for essential elements that should be included. Look out for:

At Archway Funeral Service, we’re open and honest about all fees from the outset. There are no surprises—just clear, supportive guidance.

4. Consider Prepaid Funeral Plans

If you’re planning ahead, a prepaid funeral plan can help lock in today’s prices and reduce future stress for your family. But not all plans are created equal. Make sure:

• The plan is FCA regulated

• Your money is held securely

• The services promised are fully covered

We offer trusted, localised plans that reflect your true wishes and remove uncertainty for those left behind.

5. Read Reviews and Get Recommendations

Word of mouth still matters. Speak to others in your community, read online testimonials, and check independent reviews. A good funeral director should have a strong reputation for care, respect, and reliability.

We’re proud of the relationships we’ve built across Derbyshire, and honoured by the families who trust us during life’s most difficult times.

6. Trust Your Instincts

Ultimately, your connection with a funeral director should feel right. Are they taking the time to listen? Do you feel supported and informed? Are your wishes respected, not rushed?

At Archway Funeral Service, our priority is you. We don’t believe in “one-size-fits-all” funerals. We believe in meaningful, respectful goodbyes—crafted around the individual, not a template.

Let’s Talk

If you’re unsure about how to plan a funeral or just want a no-obligation chat about your options, we’re here for you. Whether you’re pre-planning or arranging a service for someone close, we’ll walk with you every step of the way—with compassion, clarity, and care.

📍 Archway Funeral Service – Serving families across Derbyshire

If you are looking to arrange a Derbyshire funeral in Ripley, Heanor, Belper, Crich or the surrounding areas of Derbyshire, please do not hesitate to contact Archway Funeral Service.

When it comes to saying a final goodbye to a loved one in the UK, the choice between a church service and a crematorium ceremony can be a deeply personal and significant decision. Both settings offer unique elements of respect, tradition, and personalisation, but they serve different cultural and spiritual needs.

Historical and Cultural Context

The church has long been central to British funeral traditions, particularly within Christian communities. Historically, funerals were held in parish churches, reflecting the religious beliefs and cultural customs of the deceased and their family. A church service often includes hymns, prayers, and a eulogy delivered by a clergy member, with the ceremony focusing on faith and the afterlife.

In contrast, crematoriums emerged more recently, gaining popularity in the UK in the 20th century as attitudes towards death and memorialisation evolved. Cremation is now the most common choice, with around 77% of funerals in the UK involving cremation. This shift reflects changing beliefs, environmental concerns, and the desire for more secular or flexible services.

Ceremony Structure

Church Services:

• Conducted by a priest, vicar, or minister.
• Religious readings, hymns, and prayers are central.
• Burial often follows the service, although some churches allow cremations after a church ceremony.

Crematorium Services:

• Often shorter, typically 30-45 minutes.
• Can be either religious, secular, or humanist.
• Includes music, eulogies, and readings, with flexibility in tone and content.

Venue Atmosphere and Personalisation

Churches, often historic and architecturally significant, provide a traditional and spiritual atmosphere. Their aesthetic and sacred nature can offer a sense of peace and continuity with generations past.

Crematoriums, on the other hand, are modern and purpose-built, focusing on the practicalities of cremation. Many crematoriums have chapels with neutral designs that can be adapted for various faiths or non-religious ceremonies.

Cost Considerations

The cost difference can be significant. A church service followed by burial tends to be more expensive due to cemetery fees and ongoing maintenance of gravesites. Cremation, however, often proves more affordable, with fewer long-term costs involved.

Environmental Factors

Cremation has faced scrutiny for its environmental impact, primarily due to carbon emissions and energy consumption. However, newer technologies like water cremation and greener crematorium practices aim to reduce this impact.

Burials, while often considered more natural, can also affect the environment through land use and embalming chemicals. Woodland burials have become a popular eco-friendly alternative, blending the natural process of decomposition with minimal environmental disruption.

Conclusion: Choosing What Feels Right

Ultimately, the choice between a church service and a crematorium in the UK depends on personal beliefs, family traditions, and practical considerations. While churches offer a deep connection to faith and heritage, crematoriums provide flexibility and a modern approach to memorialisation. Families should feel empowered to choose the setting that best honours their loved one’s life and values.

If you are looking to arrange a Derbyshire funeral in Ripley, Heanor, Belper, Crich or the surrounding areas of Derbyshire, please do not hesitate to contact Archway Funeral Service.

When it comes to saying a final goodbye to a loved one in the UK, the choice between a church service and a crematorium ceremony can be a deeply personal and significant decision. Both settings offer unique elements of respect, tradition, and personalisation, but they serve different cultural and spiritual needs.

Historical and Cultural Context

The church has long been central to British funeral traditions, particularly within Christian communities. Historically, funerals were held in parish churches, reflecting the religious beliefs and cultural customs of the deceased and their family. A church service often includes hymns, prayers, and a eulogy delivered by a clergy member, with the ceremony focusing on faith and the afterlife.

In contrast, crematoriums emerged more recently, gaining popularity in the UK in the 20th century as attitudes towards death and memorialisation evolved. Cremation is now the most common choice, with around 77% of funerals in the UK involving cremation. This shift reflects changing beliefs, environmental concerns, and the desire for more secular or flexible services.

Ceremony Structure

Church Services:

• Conducted by a priest, vicar, or minister.
• Religious readings, hymns, and prayers are central.
• Burial often follows the service, although some churches allow cremations after a church ceremony.

Crematorium Services:

• Often shorter, typically 30-45 minutes.
• Can be either religious, secular, or humanist.
• Includes music, eulogies, and readings, with flexibility in tone and content.

Venue Atmosphere and Personalisation

Churches, often historic and architecturally significant, provide a traditional and spiritual atmosphere. Their aesthetic and sacred nature can offer a sense of peace and continuity with generations past.

Crematoriums, on the other hand, are modern and purpose-built, focusing on the practicalities of cremation. Many crematoriums have chapels with neutral designs that can be adapted for various faiths or non-religious ceremonies.

Cost Considerations

The cost difference can be significant. A church service followed by burial tends to be more expensive due to cemetery fees and ongoing maintenance of gravesites. Cremation, however, often proves more affordable, with fewer long-term costs involved.

Environmental Factors

Cremation has faced scrutiny for its environmental impact, primarily due to carbon emissions and energy consumption. However, newer technologies like water cremation and greener crematorium practices aim to reduce this impact.

Burials, while often considered more natural, can also affect the environment through land use and embalming chemicals. Woodland burials have become a popular eco-friendly alternative, blending the natural process of decomposition with minimal environmental disruption.

Conclusion: Choosing What Feels Right

Ultimately, the choice between a church service and a crematorium in the UK depends on personal beliefs, family traditions, and practical considerations. While churches offer a deep connection to faith and heritage, crematoriums provide flexibility and a modern approach to memorialisation. Families should feel empowered to choose the setting that best honours their loved one’s life and values.

If you are looking to arrange a Derbyshire funeral in Ripley, Heanor, Belper, Crich or the surrounding areas of Derbyshire, please do not hesitate to contact Archway Funeral Service.

Look deep into the eyes of a Veteran today. It’s not hard to find one across the Brazos Valley. For those over 60 years old, chances are good that they are wearing a ball cap with their service insignia on the bill. Maybe they are wearing an old service jacket to stay warm in our newly cold air outside.

Maybe there’s a look on their face of solitude and solemnity this day that has them quieter than usual…reflecting on a time where they all committed the same first step. They had a desire to make a difference in the world around them. The

was established at the end of World War I and is celebrated every November 11

th

.

Military service during wartime is not a choice, but a necessity. Yet, in the past there was never a problem getting people to volunteer to enlist. In fact, many young men lied about their ages to actually gain entry into service rather than seek to find some convenient reason they could not serve their country. Many times those who might have a physical impediment that kept them from active military duty still found a way in other branches to be of service from the ground or behind a desk, all because they shared that same desire to serve.

In some families, military service is generational and it’s a natural expectation that sons and daughters will follow in their parents’ footsteps and enlist in a particular branch of service. For others who are the first in their families to enlist, the military is one of the best prospects to learn an important, relevant trade and to earn funds to continue education after military service is concluded. For other young people, service is the first choice for what to do after high school graduation. The prospect of leaving home for lands and towns unknown presents an attractive and exciting challenge on its own.

Military service means a keen sense of discipline is needed and expected. This new kind of lifestyle where one has little free choice and must follow the orders of those ranking above them is a great way to understand how business works, as many contemporary business organizations follow a top-down management and leadership style, where seniority and longevity mean ultimate promotion unless unusual circumstances enter.

The

into military service is simple, but profound:

This same simple oath is taken by all patriots who enter our armed forces. This oath is sincere and offered with no reservations and those who agree to it are expected to live up to it…defending our country against all enemies, being loyal to the United States above all other countries, and to support our country. In that oath, each service person is uniquely alike in their mission.

Especially as we are in a day and time where our friends and neighbors and allies are in the midst of war, some of which we are supporting with our personnel and funds, we remember the sacrifices that are being made in the name of military service to the United States of America. It is who we are and what we do as Americans and patriots.

This Veterans Day means something special to all who have served, and to their families, who with the service person support their choice for entering the service to our country. They are due our greatest thanks, our admiration, and our salutes when we remember their gifts to us in serving. When you see someone in a ball cap as a retired service person, or if you see someone in active duty uniform today, please take a moment to stop them and say, “Thank you for your service.” Without them, we would not be the great nation we are today. God bless all of you on this Veterans Day.

I received an unsolicited e-mail the other day about taking a course that would lead me to become a “Certified Funeral Celebrant”.  I’m not interested in that but, more and more, I see greater numbers of the consumer public shedding the idea of using formal clergy in the memorialization of their loved ones.

And, as I was thinking about the thought of funerals, memorial services, and out-of-the-norm death care services, I started to think that “Funeral Celebrants” are in more and more demand everyday.  The crux of my service as a funeral director was from 1980 thru 2013, which is now ten years ago.

Even in my time the trend was for increasing numbers of families that questioned how, or who, since they have no church membership, would “officiate” at the funeral of their loved one.  Luckily our funeral home was in a large retirement area and we had several retired clergy around who appreciated the chance to “spread the gospel” to families who had either “fallen away” from the church or never joined a church.  Most of these retired clergy relished the chance to have an audience where they could spread the good news of the gospels once again.

And, most families appreciated those thoughts and the message that was delivered.  But today, as you can see from the small graph below, the decline of church membership continues in this country and I’m of the belief that more and more mourners now prefer a “secular” officiant over a “religious” officiant at a death care service.

In researching this article I found this information from SCI’s Dignity Memorial branch giving consumer information on a “Funeral Celebrant”.  Just by having it available for consumer information on their website gives some indication of the growing popularity of the idea.  Here’s is what they say about why you might want to use a celebrant:

• You need help personalizing a funeral service and you’re not sure how to do it.
• You want someone who is more flexible and experienced than a traditional minister to guide the service.
• You are looking for someone to act as an officiant and as the main speaker at a memorial.

In my lifetime I’ve also seen a movement whereby American citizens more often than not look for answers from an “expert” than dig deep inside themselves to find their own answers to questions that they may have.  I’ve even moved that way — for instance looking at a YouTube video on fixing my lawn mower instead of just getting out there with my tool set and going at it.

On this website titled “The Ultimate guide to a Celebrant-Led funeral” I can see why many would look to a celebrant for guidance on something that they are not familiar with.  The website states this, as to how a celebrant will help, among other things:

• Be a point of support and guidance from the very first meeting right through until the end of the service

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  The one obstacle I see from the funeral home’s point of view is that I think it may be difficult for mourning family members to separate the guidance that they get from a funeral celebrant from the guidance that they get from the funeral director during the death care process.  From my point of view the jobs of the two are distinct and different — but I’m not so sure that every family will recognize that.

Because of that I think it is probably best that the funeral home have an incredible working relationship with the celebrant, or better yet, have a celebrant on staff for the families that they serve.

I think celebrants will be used more and more going forward and because of that I would suggest having funeral directors who are interested in being out front and not intimidated by being a speaker and leader of a service look into celebrant training.  By doing so a funeral home can be assured that its philosophy for guiding a family from grief through memorialization to remembrance is not intercepted by someone with a differing philosophy.

I’d go as far to say that having celebrants on staff and the care that they give as a celebrant can be a seamless “continuity of care” to the family from the funeral home.  That continuity on how a family can be cared for by, in order, a funeral director, a celebrant, and an aftercare program could be a difference maker in many consumer choices for funeral home selection. . . . . .especially when there is no organized church and/or clergy involved.

If I was still operating my funeral home and I had not done so yet, I would look for ways in which I could present secular celebrants to families . . . . . . just the offer and opportunity may move families from a simple direct cremation with no services to a more thorough memorialization with ancillary services.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

Look deep into the eyes of a Veteran today. It’s not hard to find one across the Brazos Valley. For those over 60 years old, chances are good that they are wearing a ball cap with their service insignia on the bill. Maybe they are wearing an old service jacket to stay warm in our newly cold air outside.

Maybe there’s a look on their face of solitude and solemnity this day that has them quieter than usual…reflecting on a time where they all committed the same first step. They had a desire to make a difference in the world around them. The first Veterans Day was established at the end of World War I and is celebrated every November 11^th.

Military service during wartime is not a choice, but a necessity. Yet, in the past there was never a problem getting people to volunteer to enlist. In fact, many young men lied about their ages to actually gain entry into service rather than seek to find some convenient reason they could not serve their country. Many times those who might have a physical impediment that kept them from active military duty still found a way in other branches to be of service from the ground or behind a desk, all because they shared that same desire to serve.

In some families, military service is generational and it’s a natural expectation that sons and daughters will follow in their parents’ footsteps and enlist in a particular branch of service. For others who are the first in their families to enlist, the military is one of the best prospects to learn an important, relevant trade and to earn funds to continue education after military service is concluded. For other young people, service is the first choice for what to do after high school graduation. The prospect of leaving home for lands and towns unknown presents an attractive and exciting challenge on its own.

Military service means a keen sense of discipline is needed and expected. This new kind of lifestyle where one has little free choice and must follow the orders of those ranking above them is a great way to understand how business works, as many contemporary business organizations follow a top-down management and leadership style, where seniority and longevity mean ultimate promotion unless unusual circumstances enter.

The oath of enlistment and oath for commissioned officers into military service is simple, but profound:

“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

This same simple oath is taken by all patriots who enter our armed forces. This oath is sincere and offered with no reservations and those who agree to it are expected to live up to it…defending our country against all enemies, being loyal to the United States above all other countries, and to support our country. In that oath, each service person is uniquely alike in their mission.

Especially as we are in a day and time where our friends and neighbors and allies are in the midst of war, some of which we are supporting with our personnel and funds, we remember the sacrifices that are being made in the name of military service to the United States of America. It is who we are and what we do as Americans and patriots.

This Veterans Day means something special to all who have served, and to their families, who with the service person support their choice for entering the service to our country. They are due our greatest thanks, our admiration, and our salutes when we remember their gifts to us in serving. When you see someone in a ball cap as a retired service person, or if you see someone in active duty uniform today, please take a moment to stop them and say, “Thank you for your service.” Without them, we would not be the great nation we are today. God bless all of you on this Veterans Day.