I was honored by an invitation to speak last night at the “Against All Odds Gala” put on by the Northern Colorado Veterans Resource Center. TJ and his group at NCVRC do an amazing job at supporting Veterans here in Northern Colorado.
I usually just “wing it” when invited to speak. Last night, I wanted to be more intentional with my comments, so I scripted myself out. I cried. Dumb thing to do. The older I get, the more I am an emotional wreck – I guess I feel the days ticking away and I want my actions in the time that is left to matter. Since I wrote a script, I thought I would share it here. So, for better or worse, here are my words to these distinguished veterans…
Good evening. It is my absolute honor to be here tonight – to mix and mingle and dine with the men and women who have unselfishly served this great nation. As a Weld County Commissioner, I am humbled to speak to numerous military and veterans’ groups. I am honored by TJ’s invitation to address this distinguished crowd tonight.
In an unusual move for me, I wrote my comments down – I will largely be on script. If you’re unfamiliar with my background, let me give you a quick synopsis: I grew up not far from here, in LaSalle, working on feedlots and ranches. I rather accidentally fell into the radio business, where I spent 41-years as an Operations Manager, Program Director, and on-air personality at radio stations.
Mid-way through my radio career, I accidentally fell into public service – most say “politics” – and for 25-years I have been honored to serve as a Planning Commissioner, Town Councilman, and Mayor in the Town of Johnstown – and now I am in my second term as a Weld County Commissioner.
So, to surmise, I went from the ranch to the radio business and from the radio business to politics. My life has been completely full of crap. Bullshit is my specialty. So, while “public speaking” terrifies some, I am completely comfortable and capable to get up here with absolutely no notes, makeup 6 – 8 minutes’ worth of comments on the fly, and then sit back down and see if I could mooch another piece of cheesecake.
But I scripted my comments tonight – I don’t want to ramble – I want my words to be intentional – I want my words to have value to a group of people I value so much. Veterans.
I turned 18 in 1980 – graduated high school in 1981. I walked into the LaSalle post office and registered for the selective service. I was the first group of 18-year-olds required to do so after registration was resumed under authority of Jimmy Carter’s Presidential Proclamation 4771.
I didn’t have a clue what that meant, nor was I concerned, America was at relative peace. There was no clarion call to service or arms, so I did not serve. At the time it made sense, but today, I am a bit embarrassed by that fact. I shared that story at a Veterans gathering some years back and an old boy wearing a World War II Army hat approached me afterward and said, “Scott, never be embarrassed. I served so you didn’t have to.” Thank you.
My service has come in different forms. As a radio talent, I have volunteered tens of thousands of hours. I have served as a volunteer emcee at hundreds of charity banquets. I dribbled a basketball between Loveland and Fort Collins for the American Heart Association. Played a 24-hour game of floating Monopoly in a hot tub for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I have done countless radio-thons for the Kids of St. Jude. I broke the World’s Ferris Wheel record by spending 50-hours riding the wheel over here at Scheels for the Larimer and Weld County Food Banks. Two years later I broke my own record and rode it 51-hours. My ass is still not awake. But I knew with complete certainty throughout my brand of service that my life would not be endangered. Veterans, when you signed up for your service, you did not have the luxury of that certainty.
Because of your service to protect this nation’s God-given freedoms, I, and countless millions more like me, have been free to serve our communities in our own ways. Walkathons, 5Ks, bake sales, PTAs, HOAs, Lions, Kiwanians, Rotarians, Elks Clubs, Moose Clubs, Sertoma, Optimists, DeMolay, Eastern Star, Masons, PEOs, Chambers, Junior Chambers, and countless hundreds more are all free to serve their respective communities because YOU had the courage to raise your right hand and solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution and the nation from all those enemies, foreign and domestic, who just can’t stand it that by the grace of God and your resolve we are free.
I didn’t serve. But I would die for that.
This room is full of heroes—veterans who have given their time, energy, and in far too many cases, parts of their bodies, to protect this great nation. Whether you were on the front lines or supporting behind the scenes, you were part of something much bigger than yourselves. And that’s something the rest of us will never be able to fully repay. But we can honor you. We can stand with you. And we can remind ourselves of the true cost of freedom.
I have been retired from the radio business for a little over a year now. My last show was with a friend named Sadie. Scott and Sadie in the Morning on Big 97-9. On Fridays, we would do “Flashback Fridays,” a corny, old school “request” show where listeners could call in and request their favorite Country oldies.
A favorite on Flashback Fridays was Johnny Paycheck’s Take this Job and Shove It. A workin’ man and woman’s anthem – it reflected the secret desire that many of us harbor to just raise the appropriate finger at our boss and to tell ‘em I quit! I’m sick of this crap! I’m out!
There are lots and lots and lots of people in the work force today that want to give their boss that one finger salute. I have never seen that in the US Military. Sure, you may not have seen eye-to-eye with your sergeant or your chief or your lieutenant or your commander. But you always agree on the mission because the mission is America and her people.
Thank you for believing in the mission. Veterans show us what it looks like to put others first, even when it costs us something. And that’s a lesson I carry with me every day. All politicians would be wisely served to take a lesson from your example.
As we continue our celebration here tonight, I encourage all of us—whether we served or not—to continue standing by our veterans. Let’s honor them not just with words, but with actions. Support their families. Advocate for their needs. And, most importantly, let’s remind them that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
To all of you who have served—and to the families who have supported you—thank you. Thank you for protecting the freedoms we hold dear. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
