[music] When I stop to count my blessings, I think about the many freedoms I enjoy. The feelings of safety and security. The chance to go to college. Sleeping peacefully at night. Practicing my faith. Starting a business. Learning from people who are different than me. The pursuit of happiness. Spending time with my family.
Everything we enjoy as Americans starts with you. You, the marine, the medic, the chaplain. The chef. The airmen. The soldier. The sailor. Do you serve on the frontlines or behind the scenes? Within our county lines or beyond our borders, you’ve kept us safe. Yes, we live freely because of you. So thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. At High Point University, our patriotism is grounded in gratitude. The flag, our flag, the red, white and blue. The flag of the the United States of America. It flies high and mighty on our campus. Patriotism is our duty and our joy.
So thank you veterans. We appreciate. Honor. Respect. Celebrate. Admire. Cherish. Value. Applaud. Commend. We love you. Thank you for shinning the light of freedom in the darkest corners of the world. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for protecting our great nation.
Fellow veterans, welcome to High Point University. Please know that High Point University is honored and proud that you’ve come to join us this morning. Now if you’ll please stand for the parading of the colors and the singing of the national anthem. This morning the president of the United States
Has extended the courtesy to all of us who have served with honor to render the hand salute indoors. Detail, fall and forward. [?] up, two, three, four. Up, two, three, four. Detail, halt, right, face, present, arms. [music] [music] O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight’s last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? [applause] Order, arms, left, face, forward. Arch, up, two, three, four, up, two, three, four. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome High Point University student dean’s list recipient and member of the ROTC, Ms. Carolyn Sweden [applause] Good morning.
Please bow your heads for this morning’s invocation. Heavenly Father, you are so loving and gracious. You were there when our nation was established and you called upon those to hope and dream for a land of freedom and opportunity. We praise you for this great nation.
On this Veteran’s Day, we pray for those who have served our country and who have laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom. You have given us selfless, brave, and loyal men and women who have steadfastly served in their chosen branch of our military.
We gather today to remember how their service enables us to walk as free men and women in this great land. Lord, today we seek to honor your sons and daughters who have served or who are serving our country. We are reminded that because of their service, we can live in safety.
We ask that you bless those who have previously served, and may their service time be rewarded in every way. We also honor our wounded warriors. We realize that many of our heroes are dealing with physical and emotional wounds as a result of their time of service to our countries.
We ask that you show them healing wherever they’re struggling. We also remember those who are currently serving. We ask that you give them pure protection, your strength and your peace. We ask that you provide for all their needs and that you watch over their families while they’re away.
May each of our veterans feel honored, not just today, but every day. We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome High Point University President, Dr. Nido Qubein. Good morning everyone and welcome to your University, High Point University. We’re delighted that you’re here this morning.
I have to confess, I did not think you’ll show up. It’s raining. They’re talking tornadoes and I want you to look around you. Every seat is filled in this house, and if you look behind you, people are seated in the arena. We have an overcrowd sitting in the arena.
These are the Southwest Airline seats. These are the people who don’t give money to High Point University. We’re delighted that you are here, and to the thousands upon thousands who are watching us this morning on the streaming service, we welcome you too.
In your homes, in your offices, wherever you’re watching us on your iPhone or you’re watching us on your iPad, thank you for joining us from across America, from coast to coast and border to border. Then if you look right behind you, look at those young men. Just take a look, will you?
Look, wave everybody. Look at that. Look at these guys. Every one of these guys got a tie on and a beautiful jacket and every one of them is after my job. I am so proud of them. You’ll hear from them in a moment or two. We’re delighted that you’re here this morning.
This is the day the Lord hath made, rejoice, and be glad in it. Come on, my goodness. Are you kidding? We live in America, and we ought to be grateful every day. When you got up here this morning, you should have looked up to the heavens, rain and clouds and tornadoes alike.
You should have said, “Thank you God, for the gift you’ve given me for which I paid nothing.” It’s called breathing in my nostril and giving me the breath of life. It’s called oxygen. Oxygen that we’re grateful for. Look, I don’t know how many campuses we do what we do. Are you kidding me?
Our country somehow has lost some of its soul when it comes to patriotism, and lifting our hearts and our souls to God Almighty and saying, “Thank you for allowing us to live in this nation.” It is not a perfect nation but perfection should never be our goal. Excellence should be our goal.
No, it’s not a perfect nation. It’s got a lot of blemishes in its history of course, but it also has a long way to go in being as excellent as we can be. In the meantime, where else in the world would you like to live?
If you think of one I’ll buy you a ticket for you. If I were king for a day, for every person who enters the borders of the United States of America I’d ship one out. I’d ship out the whining, complaining, ungrateful, unthankful. Ladies and gentlemen let me shout it from the mountaintop.
For every person who walks this land there are a million people around the world who would love to be walking this land. I had to fill out 38 forms, side A and side B to become one of you. I’m a legal immigrant. I worked hard to do that.
I had to earn the right to be an American. I had to live here numerous years to earn the American passport, the US passport. That was way back then, I’ve been here a long time and none of you is going to get rid of me.
I got enough fraternity boys who will cover for me, but sometimes it breaks my heart. Now we should all be doing our part to make our country better, and we should all have input and feedback and suggestions and recommendations to make it better.
In the meantime, on a morning like today and on every morning of our lives, we ought to express our gratitude for veterans who made it possible for us to live in a free land, and for those who suffered with them and for those who are not with us anymore.
For the children and grandchildren who may have never had a chance to meet them. To everyone, to give our gratitude from our hearts and our souls for their service. High Point University is one of 4,000 universities across America, but we have staked our position in the ground.
We said we’re a God, God first, family and country school. You can’t walk across this campus 10 feet without seeing an American flag. Here at our athletic events every single person, every single athlete puts their hand on their heart when we sing the national anthem. Now look, we believe in diversity and inclusivity.
We want every person in our campus to feel good and feel loved, regardless of what religion, regardless of what background, and certainly regardless of any political persuasion. This isn’t about politics. God, family and country is not about politics. This is-yes, sir. We got a Baptist in the house.
I love Baptists because when you do something wrong, they’ll pray for you. [laughter] I’m a Methodist. I believe in revenge. [laughter] Here’s the deal. The deal is we want the young men and women who enter the hallways of this university to understand that they’re gifted and blessed,
To have been given oxygen to live, to have a family that loves them, to have a community that welcomes them, to have a university that instills in their heart, the fundamentals, the principles, the goals, the tenants, the characteristics, that makes these young people responsible citizens of this nation,
And responsible leaders for the future, for your tomorrow’s and your children’s tomorrow’s and your grandkids tomorrow’s. That’s what High Point University is. Let me shout it from the mountaintop. The more we say we’re a God family country school, the more people will beat a path to the school. It’s unbelievable to me.
On a rainy day 1,500 people sit right here, 75 students stand in the back and hundreds are sitting over there and thousands are watching us. What does that say to you? We’re hungry, we’re thirsty in this nation, to be reminded of the things that give us the chance to be who we are.
We want this university to remind all these students that they have a responsibility to love each other. Jesus said you must love the least of the brothers and sisters. Too much is given, much is required. It doesn’t matter what background, what religion, what race, what economic position, we must love everyone.
Everyone is a part of this family called the High Point University and we’re grateful for that. Do you know that this school this year will get 20,000 applications for the freshman class? Are you kidding me? We used to have 370 Freshmen here and we basically begged for them. Today we have 1,600 freshmen.
As I was telling our mayor moments ago, we’re just bulging at the seams. If we have a challenge on this campus, how do we deal with our growth because America has noticed High Point University? It noticed that we care about everyone and we respect everyone and we don’t judge anyone. Ladies and gentlemen,
You got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. Young people are impressionable. [applause] Young people are impressionable and we want to guide them in the right way. We tell our students here to go vote. We don’t tell them who to vote for.
That’s the beauty of this country is to be free to have choice, but we want them to be able to be responsible citizens, we want them to stand up and be counted on to be leaders. This community, our students give 1,000s of hours every year, on MLK Day,
It’s a day on, not a day off. Hundreds of students faculty and staff go all over our city, do amazing things. Paint people’s houses, clean streets, participate with children’s programs, that’s who we are. This isn’t some marketing slogan. This is a belief system.
Your beliefs lead to your behaviors, your behaviors, lead to results. This university is being blessed every day. Thank you, God. We thank God every day for the blessings that come our way. What university you know, that in under 45 days, three families step up and give us $100 million,
So we can start a law school and a dental school and build the new library. For those who have faith, it always comes your way. What we have on this campus is courage. We also have faith, and faithful courage will carry us all the way.
Now I got to tell you, I have a script. Everything I said is not on the script, so this is going to be a four-hour program. Man Frank, when I see a black preacher here, I want to be one of you. Go to a black church now you’ll hear a real sermon,
And then encourage the preacher to keep on going. Then they take up three offerings, four offerings, let’s start Sunday morning. They go to Tuesday afternoon, my church at about 20 minutes to 12, we’re still looking at our watches. It’s time for lunch. My goodness, gracious. We welcome all of you.
This is the 12th annual Veterans Day celebration on the campus of High Point University today. We’re also broadcasting as I said, a live stream of our event. Our environment seeks to surround students with heroes, with models, with mentors. This is the event that is just one example of our efforts
To ensure that students see face-to-face today. You saw hundreds of them welcoming you as you came in this morning. They’re applauding you and welcoming you. You realize how tough this is. You start coming in about 6:30 in the morning, our students don’t wake up before 11 AM.
With faithful courage [?] both serve and your service and your sacrifice is remembered and appreciated by all. The Grand Concourse as you entered today, you saw the star of service and the star of sacrifice. Veterans, I hope you saw that. This patriotic display, a 5 point star
With a 10 foot circumference was commissioned by HPU. It was designed for veterans to sign and many of you signed it last year and years before. We wanted a campus display full of signatures from our military heroes, so that every day the HPU campus would be reminded of our nation’s military heroes.
Many of you signed the star already, but if you haven’t, I hope you’ll do it before you leave here today. I want to recognize some of our sponsors and some of our dignitaries here today for whom we’re very grateful. At High Point University, we’re blessed to have the support of alumni,
Parents, friends and organizations who deeply believe in the values of this university. We thank these individuals and these companies for partnering with us to honor our veterans. First, I want to talk about former HPU parents and continuing supporters of this university. Alan and Karen Sheriff, would you two please stand up.
Alan and Karen right here in front of me. Alan and Karen Sheriff, who were inspired by this event and chose to give us a large gift to endow this event for generations to come. Their son Daniel went to school, he’s graduated, he’s doing amazing things, working in a financial institution,
And his parents owe me a fee because their son met a girl on this campus. It’s a serious relationship. It’s just like eharmony.com, we charge a fee for that. [laughter] We’re also grateful to their son Andrew Sheriff, for connecting with our featured speaker, Red Ramos,
And so I’ll introduce them in just a moment. High Point University alumni M.J. Hall and her husband Jay Stubbs established a fund to support this event for generations to come as well. Beginning next year, have established a student essay contest to promote the values of patriotism and leadership.
M.J. would you please stand up and your husband, thank you so much for being with us today. We appreciate it. [applause] We’re glad to have our River Landing friends here this morning. Where are you? River Landing friends raise your hand. I’m getting older, make sure I get in.
I know it’s hard to find a place. Represented by executive Director Tom Smith and over 50 River Landing students who are joining us, the residents who are joining us this morning. Thank you for being here. Now, I’m going to talk about my friend David Griffin and his wife Donna.
David Griffin is the CEO of the D. H. Griffin Construction Company, and members of their family have been helpers of this university for a long time. When you came in, you saw God, family, country that’s made of steel. I think it’s, I don’t know how many pounds of steel
But you’ll get a hernia just touching it. It’s that heavy. Mr. Griffin is the guy who went up 9/11 to New York with his company and helped take care of business over there. He made sure that we got enough steel to make these words, God, family, country at High Point University
And you saw them as you came up with the large flag. David, you and Donna do amazing things, you and your family, and we thank you for that and God bless you. To whom much is given, much is required and I’m going to require more of you. [laughter]
The Bible says, “Ask and you shall receive.” Okay. Now I want to thank Harvard Table Culinary Group, represented by culinary director of hospital services and US veteran, Jeremy Joy. Jeremy, we love you, and we appreciate you. Ladies and gentlemen this morning, we’re glad to have Lauren Wyatt from Congresswoman Kathy Manning’s office.
We’re very glad to have our mayor here. Mayor J. Wagner, please stand up. This mayor is very supportive of this institution through and through, he stands tall and is counted. We appreciate him. We appreciate our city council. Our city council, amazing men and women
Who guide the city and make it what it is, and we thank them. I want to introduce, would you please stand Britt Moore, Monica Peters, Wesley Hudson, Victor Jones, thank you for being with us this morning all of you. We appreciate you. High Point Fire Department Chief Reid, where are you, Chief?
Oh, there you are in the back. Chief Reid, we’re glad to have you. Thank you for your men and women who keep this campus safe. We appreciate you. From the Guilford County Commissioners, we have the one lady whom we love a lot, Carlvena Foster. Carlvena, stand up.
She’s a High Point-er through and through, this lady. She makes good things happen. James Upchurch, James, good to have you with us here. Are you the youngest guy-James, are you the youngest Commissioner? Yes. How old are you 18, 17, 19? 27. 27, is that for real? 27? Well, congratulations, my friend.
Lower my taxes. Okay, and we have assistant city manager here, Damon Dequenne. Damon, wherever you are, thank you. There you are, thank you for being with us. I want to go off-script here and introduce my friend, Sage Steele. If you watch ESPN, if you know SportsCenter, the most famous lady,
The prettiest on television, and the smartest of them all, Sage stand up, let them take a look at you. They’ve seen you on television. Let them see you right here, Sage. Now, we love Sage Steele not only because she’s so good at what she does, and she’s on television every day,
But because she entrusted her children to us. We have her son and her daughter at High Point University. That’s reason number one, we’re blessed. Here’s reason number two, she pays in full and she pays on time. I’m so sorry that her kids are smart
Because I’d like to keep them here 7, 8, 9 years. Good to have you with us, Sage. Each year at this Veterans Day celebration on the campus of High Point University, we cheerfully renew our patriotic promise to provide a new American flag, a new United States flag to any government building,
Any school of learning or any nonprofit facility located within the City of High Point. Yes, we do. We pay for the flag, we buy the flags, we made the flag available. We don’t want to see a tethered flag anywhere across this city, and we like to see the flag everywhere.
Now, we’ll proudly distribute 100 US flags today to organizations in our city. With us today, our representatives from each category of local organizations that proudly fly the United States flag, let me introduce them to you. For public schools, we have Dr. Dominick, who is the Chief Student Services Officer for Guilford County Schools.
Dr. Dominick, good to have you with us, sir. For High Point Government, we have Damon Dequenne, who is the assistant city manager for nonprofits in the City of High Point. We have Becky Yates, Executive Director of Caring Services. Becky, your mama’s here. High Point University is proud to renew
This pledge to the citizens of High Point. If you would like a new US flag free of charge for your school, your church, your nonprofit, please contact our community relations office. We will make it available to you. This is our symbolic gesture that High
Point University stands tall as a God, family and country institution. [applause] I thank you very much for all you do through your organizations. Thank you very much for receiving this flag from High Point University and the others will come your way for sure, and God bless you everyone. Thank you, sir. Thank you.
[applause] It is my pleasure now ladies and gentlemen, to introduce our speaker for the morning, Afghanistan war veteran Redmond Ramos, known as Red, to those who know him and those who love him. Something about challenges, this gentleman, toward the end of his deployment as an navy corpsman attached to Third Battalion, Fifth Marines,
Red stepped on an improvised explosive device while on his way to provide cover and support for another injured team member. He was forced to amputate the leg if he ever wanted to walk again. In a single instant, Red’s entire life course was altered. Some of you here relate to that.
You’ve seen it, you’ve experienced it, and yet he considers himself blessed. Every challenge, every struggle is also an opportunity to succeed and overcome the difficulties that life may bring our way. After losing his leg, Red has consistently found opportunities to thrive. He joined the Travis Manion Foundation’s veteran transition program,
He competed in athletic competitions from the Warrior Games to CBS’s Amazing Race. His ultimate goal is to do exactly what he did in the military, help and inspire others. He takes every opportunity he has to share his own experience in hopes that it will strike a chord in somebody else’s heart.
Today, we’re glad to have you with us, sir. Please help me welcome Mr. Redmond Ramos. [applause] Thank you. [applause] Thank you very much. So kind of you, please give a round of applause to our amazing High Point University President, give him another round of applause. [applause]
Ladies and gentlemen, it is such an honor for me to be here today. General Patton once said that, “It’s foolish and wrong to mourn those who died, rather, we should thank God that’s such men lived.” Almost 80% of the soldiers that died during the war on terror were under 30 years old.
Over 60% of the Vietnam veterans who passed during that war, were under 21 years old. Five veterans killed during Vietnam were 16 years old, they were found later to have lied about their age because they had such a passion and a calling to serve our great country.
Only few people truly understand what it’s like to sign your will to your parents when you’re 18 years old, before shipping off to war. As President Reagan said, “The imagination our imagination plays a trick, we see these soldiers in our minds as old and wise.
We see them as something like our Founding Fathers, brave and gray haired but most of them were just boys when they died. They gave up two lives when they died, the one that they were currently living and the one that they would have lived.
They gave up their chance and their opportunity to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers, they gave up their chance to be revered old men.” That’s why it touches me in such a deep way, when I look out and see so many veterans in this room today from prior wars.
We are all lucky to be here, we’re all so fortunate to be living in the United States of America, the greatest country in the world. Thank you. Over 1.3 million veterans died during wars protecting our freedom, our very way of life and not just our country, but in our world.
Their lives remind us that freedom is not free. It is not bought at a cheap price. It has a cost, a very large cost. It imposes a very large burden. It reminds us that life is short and a warrior’s life is much shorter.
Every one of us in the room today is lucky, and that’s the truth. As a veteran, I would like to tell every other veteran in the room, I appreciate your service. Still know we’re lucky, because we’re here. Though our brothers and sisters made such incredible, beautiful sacrifices for us,
They did not want us to spend every day mourning them. They wanted us to go out and celebrate our lives. I truly believe that the best way we can honor that 1.3 million, the best way we could honor those that gave their life, that paid the ultimate sacrifice
For us is by just appreciating our own lives. When I was 22 years old I was cursed with a serious case of one-day-I-willitis. One day I’ll eat healthier and work out, one day I’ll be nicer to my family, one day I’ll compete in track, one day I’ll get a degree,
One day I’ll pursue my passions and hobbies and the career I want. One day I’ll have a family of my own and then seemingly out of the blue I learned a very serious life lesson. I stepped on an IED, an improvised explosive device, a bomb.
The pain was like something I had never experienced before. The damage to my foot, I felt it shatter upon the impact, I felt my body turn cold, my brain was rocked, I was confused and scared, and as I sat there everything seemed to move in slow motion.
I thought I was going to die. I watched my marines, my absolute heroes, run up to me and start putting tourniquets on me, realized what was happening. We all hear stories of people that face death. I’ve heard many times that some people experience their life flashing before their eyes.
Though I had a similar experience, it wasn’t exactly that. It wasn’t the life that I had lived that flashed before my eyes. When I faced death, it was the life that I had not lived. It was all of the passions I didn’t pursue, it was all of the hobbies I hadn’t yet tried,
It was all of the people I hadn’t met, the cultures I hadn’t experienced. When I sat there laying on the ground, watching the marines throw the second tourniquet on my leg. I realized how lucky I was. I was not going to be one of the brave 1.3 million.
I had just been given a gift. I was just given a second chance at life. A second chance to do anything and everything I ever wanted to do. As I laid there thanking God and thanking my marines for saving me and giving me this wonderful gift, I had swore,
I swore on that day that I would say yes to every single opportunity that came by me. I swore I would never take this life for granted again. I swore that I would preach positivity to the world. I can’t tell you the best way to live your life but I can tell you
What it’s like to be gifted a second one. Today I would love to tell you my three simple rules to live like you almost died. Rule number one, create laughter. When I showed up to the hospital in Balboa, California, I was rolled into this amazing but terrifying physical therapy facility.
The hospital in California where I was told I would be treated with about 40 other combat injured amputees. I didn’t want anything to do with that. I was absolutely intimidated. I thought this was going to to be the saddest place in the world, and this place was intimidating,
But you cannot spent more than a minute in that facility and not realize that this was not a place for pity. This was a place for growth. This was a place filled with laughter and fun and it was intentional. It was a conscious decision made by every single person
In that room to lift ourselves up and everyone around us each and every day, because the people in that room had realized that if you want to live like you almost died, if you want to truly appreciate this second chance in life, you have to create laughter.
That’s why when I watched my marines that first day there in the hospital, I’d realized, these are my heroes. These are the people that I was just deployed with, many of them. Now they’re just missing arms and missing legs. They have scars everywhere but they’re still working
Out harder than anybody I’d ever seen work out before, and because they’re marines they were doing it with shirts that said stuff like, “I had a blast in Afghanistan.” [laughter] Take the marine out of the battle, but you can’t take the battle out of the marine.
Rule number two, is find the opportunity hidden in every obstacle. Every single time we’re faced with an obstacle, we are presented with an opportunity to succeed and grow. I’ll say that again. Every single time we are faced with an obstacle, we are presented with an opportunity to succeed and grow.
When I was injured, my obstacle was very easy. It was clear. It was a physical obstacle that I had to deal with. When the doctor had told me, “Redmond, you will never be able to run again if you decide to keep your leg,”
All I heard was that I was going to run again. All I heard was the opportunity. Every single obstacle that we face has a hidden opportunity. For me, an obstacle of dealing with an injury led to an opportunity to be able to choose and opt for an amputation,
Which led to an opportunity to start running, which led to an opportunity to try out for my Navy Track team, which led to an opportunity to compete for Team USA during the Invictus Games in London, which led to an opportunity to compete on Triumph games,
Which led to another opportunity to compete on The Amazing Race, which led to a hundred different obstacles, and with them, a hundred different opportunities to live a fun, meaningful, and exciting life. This isn’t easy work. Finding obstacles when we are at our worst,
When we are facing our biggest struggles is hard to do, but I guarantee you that when you train your brain to think that way, you will become unstoppable. Even more successful than you already are. You want to live like you almost died. If you want to truly appreciate this second chance
That we all have in life, have to look and find those opportunities hidden in every obstacle. Lastly, rule number three, don’t be afraid to fail. In fact, you should not only not be afraid to fail, we should look at something new and exciting to fail at every single day.
Plan to fail at something new every single chance we get because a willingness to fail is what separates the absolute warriors from everyone else. A willingness to fail means we are willing to dare greatly, and when we live our life this way, we are going to fail.
It’s not an if, it’s not a maybe, it’s when? How often? How many times do I get to fail today? How many times do I get to fail tomorrow? It’s hard work. It’s so much easier to look at our biggest struggle and say, “I’m finally done.”
To use that struggle, to use that obstacle, as our excuse to give up. To stop pursuing our dreams when we have tried again and again and again, only to be disappointed by the result every time. If there’s one thing that my life has taught me, is that we can recycle our pain.
We can get something from it. We could use our pain, our struggle, to propel us towards something greater. We could use that pain to become unstoppable. A willingness to fail will lead to fun and exciting adventures each and every single day. Today is a special day.
Today we honor everybody who fought for our country, for our freedom, for our very way of life. You could look in the crowd right now. You could look to your left and right. See the veterans. See the heroes that are in this room with us. Look around. Take a moment.
These are hard workers, these are motivators, champions, veterans. Veterans, you stepped up when the world needed you. You faced struggle after struggle, obstacle after obstacle, failure after failure, yet you pushed on. You succeeded through every struggle you faced. You sacrificed so much for the life
That we sometimes take for granted here in America. You sacrificed so much of your life to keep this land free. You sacrificed so much of your life to bless us with what we have. Today is your day. It’s a day for the warriors. Today we honor my buddies, your buddies, our fathers,
Our brothers and sisters that fought before. We are so blessed to be in this country. I would love to leave everybody with a challenge. I challenge you, and no matter how big your struggle may be, no matter how many obstacles lie in front of you, I challenge you every day to create laughter.
I challenge you every day to find that opportunity hidden in the obstacles that lay ahead. I challenge you, every single day, to not just be okay with your failure, but to look for something new to fail at every day. Most importantly, I challenge each
And every single one of you to live life like you almost died. God bless our amazing country. God bless you all. Thank you. [applause] Thank you very, very much. I just whispered in his ear. He’s an excellent speaker. He could be a professional speaker, but wait 10 years till I die. Okay? [laughter]
Don’t start now. What a message. What a message. To create laughter. To look for every opportunity in every obstacle. Not to be afraid to fail. That’s what I want our students to hear. We got to get you back here to speak to 6,000 students, and let them hear that wonderful message.
We thank you for being with us. We thank you for your service, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, the bald eagle is the majestic symbol of our nation. Veterans, you have protected this great nation, and our freedoms through your service and your sacrifice. Today, as we enjoy the HPU Chamber Singers
As they perform America The Beautiful, it is fitting that the symbol of our nation joins us. Oh, oh. Clark the Eagle will soar above us as we appreciate– I mean, right above you. Don’t you dare stand. You will die right on the spot. Just stay there and hold onto your chair.
Clark the Eagle will soar above us as we appreciate the poignant and passionate lyrics, America, America, God shed His grace in thee. Ladies and gentlemen, the HPU Singers, and Clark the Eagle. Oh beautiful, for spacious skies For amber waves of grain For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain America, America,
God shed his grace on thee And crowned thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea Oh, beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law. [applause]
Another wonderful surprise coming your way right now. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome High Point University’s actor and residence, American actor, producer, and television presenter, and proud High Point University parent, Mr. Dean Cain. [applause] That’s great. Follow the eagle, right? Wow. Good morning, everybody, and thank you all for your service
And for your sacrifices that you’ve made. I’d also like to thank Dr. Qubein for hosting such a special and amazing event, and I’m very honored to be a part of it. You play an actor, you’re an actor, you play a character like Superman and people are like, “Oh, wow, Superman.
What a great hero.” It’s embarrassing, in a room full of real heroes. Thank you all for your service. Red, great job. I had a blast in Afghanistan. Bless you. Bless you. Patriotism is a core value here at HPU, and I have the privilege to recognize several notable examples
Of patriotism on display at this, God, family, and country university. Among the many American heroes here this morning is Brigadier General Norman Snapper C. Gaddis. General Gaddis, who just celebrated his 99th birthday. [applause] General Gaddis, if anybody deserve the name Superman it’s you, sir. No question. Well, as I said, General Gaddis,
Who just celebrated his 99th birthday is a retired US Air Force officer who was commissioned in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He served in the newly formed Air Force during the Korean War and the Vietnam Wars. During a massive firefight on a mission to Hanoi, Vietnam, in 1967,
The engine of his plane ingested part of a missile and it went down. Both pilots ejected, but the backseat pilot’s parachute never deployed. Gaddis was taken to a prison, better known as the Hanoi Hilton. Because he refused to talk, he was beaten and tortured for 67 hours until they put him
Into solitary confinement for 1,000 days. That’s almost three years. He was a prisoner of war for 2,124 days. After a 30 year military career witnessing World War II, Vietnam, the Berlin Airlift, the Cold War, and the Cuban Missile Crisis, one thing that has remained consistent throughout
General Gaddis’ life is his unwavering devotion to service and family. Beginning next year, thanks to the generosity of High Point University alumna, Dr. M.J. Hall, class of 1969, and her husband, retired Colonel Jay Stobbs, a fund has been established to recognize the leadership that Gaddis and other military heroes displayed throughout their service.
HPU students will have the opportunity to submit an essay describing leadership and character qualities found within the United States military, and how these qualities are reflected in their lives. Please give General Gaddis a warm welcome once again. [applause] God bless you, General Gaddis. I studied history. You lived everything I studied.
What an amazing man. Beginning next year, I’m sorry, I already did that, didn’t I? Last Saturday, Patriots Plaza, a venue used to recognize patriotic occasions throughout the year was dedicated in honor of Jerry W. Murdoch. Now, the photos you see here, where are those photos? Those photos.
The photos you see here are renderings of the 15 foot tall, 1,200 pound star. This patriotic symbol is being delivered next week. Growing up in a Winston-Salem orphanage, Jerry graduated from High Point College in 1962. Served in the US Navy, started a career in manufacturing and distributing, and founded IPS Packaging in 1976.
Together with his wife, Joan, he has four children and nine grandchildren. Jerry’s loyalty to his alma mater and community, dedication to hard work, and commitment to the values of God, family, and country, inspires us all. Thank you, Jerry. [applause] Now, as you entered the Qubein Arena and Conference Center,
You saw a 30 foot wide American flag. The flag display represents faith, family, and patriotism. Directly below the US flag display are the words, High Point University, and God, family, and country. The letters were forged with 3,000 pounds of steel, originally used to construct the Twin Towers in New York City.
The D.H. Griffin Company conducted site restoration work after the 9/11 attacks. David and Donna Griffin provided the steel from the site to be used in the manufacturing of the letters for this patriotic display. Please give Donna and David and the entire Griffin family, a warm welcome. Thank you all. [applause] Superman, ladies. Superman.
We don’t want to invite him here anymore. The guy is too good looking. Dean, thank you very, very much. Ladies and gentlemen, from 500,000 hours of service annually, that’s how many hours our students invest in service in this community, every year. Several million in the last decade. It’s remarkable. Since 2016.
I just want to talk about one example. Since 2016, students in the Kappa Alpha Order of High Point University have focused much of their philanthropic work under the name Operation Care. A campaign aimed at raising funds to provide track chairs for wounded veterans. In total, they’ve raised almost $200,000. These are college kids.
They’ve raised almost $200,000, and purchased eight track chairs to support veterans. Now, you should know that Operation Care was begun, founded, started, on the campus of HPU. A campus that believes in planning seeds of greatness in the minds, hearts, and souls of our students.
These HPU students and HPU alumni have formal education programs to help other chapters of Kappa Alpha Order raise money. Other chapters, on other campuses across America, and to purchase track chairs for veterans all across the United States of America. 70 university chapters across America were inspired,
Motivated, taught to do this on their campuses. This is remarkable. [applause] Collectively, they’ve raised more than a million dollars to buy track chairs for veterans. This includes, those 70 chapters include some SEC large schools that were inspired by High Point University students.
They all started right here, on the campus of High Point University. Please help me welcome HPU alumnus and member of the Kappa Alpha Order, Michael Esposito. Michael, are you bringing the crowd with you? Michael, where are you? Come on up. Are you bringing your guys with you? Are you bringing them out here?
Guys, come on up here. Come on. All of you. Come up on stage. Come on. Come on. [applause] I want them standing behind you there. Let them do their thing. Check this out. Now, listen, America’s youth are like airplanes. You only hear about the ones that crash. [laughter]
You don’t hear about the millions every day who do unbelievable things, right? You don’t hear that. This is an example of what goodwill can do. Yes, good to see you, guys. [applause] Big enough. I think. [chuckles] [laughter] [applause] How about two big guys should carry him for me. [laughs] Seriously, come carry him.
Can you carry him? [laughter] [applause] Thank you for that introduction, Dr. Qubein. It’s very humbling to follow Clark the Eagle, Superman, and Dr. Qubein, but I do have all my fraternity brothers with me, and we are very happy to be here with you today. My name is Michael Esposito.
I’m a proud alumnus of High Point University from the class of 2017. Today, I’d like to share with you a story about a far-reaching and impactful and philanthropic initiative that was born here on this campus. In the spring of 2016, I was in my junior year,
And the president of my fraternity chapter on campus, Kappa Alpha Order. That semester, we partnered with the Independence Fund to provide a track chair for a wounded veteran. Operation Care stands for knowledge, awareness, results, and empowerment. Our fraternity brothers, who were of military age ourselves at the time,
Took on this initiative and this mission because we wanted to give back to the veterans who’d served our country, and express our gratitude. That semester we raised over $27,000 to provide a track chair to a wounded veteran by building a coalition of individual donors and business sponsors around the country
That our brothers worked actively to build. We brought Sergeant Mike Verardo, a US Army veteran, and gave him the track chair on campus in 2016, and it was a remarkable experience. Hearing from Sergeant Verardo how the track chair would improve his mobility and allow him to play with his children,
Really made us realize the impact of what we had done. The KA chapter at High Point University has given a track chair away to a veteran every year since then, and we will be giving two more away this morning. We will be giving them away to Steven Smarick. [applause]
We will be giving these chairs away to Steven Smarick and Chris Lindsay, whose wife, Kelly, will be here to accept the chair. If you could give them a round of applause, they’re sitting at table one. [applause] Thank you for your service. [applause] In 2019, I began working with alumni and undergraduates,
Here at High Point, from our chapter, to help the Independence Fund build this out, and it build out Operation Care nationwide. By replicating the same fundraising techniques, methods, and procedures that we champion here at High Point University, our initiative has grown to include the participation
Of over 70 other KA chapters across the country. From Kennesaw State, to UC Berkeley, the University of Alabama, Ole Miss, and Auburn, this initiative has empowered thousands of fraternity men to lead and deliver results that have changed people’s lives. Since launching in 2016, the Operation Care Initiative has raised
And donated nearly $1 million to provide track chairs and support the Independence Fund’s additional programs that help wounded veterans overcome the physical and emotional wounds of war. This result is a profound milestone for an initiative born of a God, family, and country school. It represents the young people at High Point University,
And on other campuses from coast to coast, who have dedicated themselves and their time to serving and giving back to our nation’s veterans. It is also a reminder that our commitment to supporting our veterans must continue and carry on. On this day, let us express our gratitude to every veteran
And their family for their devotion to this great country, to its people, and to its future. Thank you. [applause] Thank you, doctor. I’ll tell you, I’m sitting there thanking God that he led me to High Point University, where I get to work with guys like you.
I’m so proud of each of you. You guys are amazing. Just a minute to thank you. [applause] Dear friends, the Armed Forces salute is traditionally played at the High Point University Veterans Day celebration, and we invite veterans to stand when the anthem of your military branch is played.
Veterans, when you hear your anthem, please stand, as you are able, for the duration of your branch anthem. When you stand, you will be greeted by a High Point University student volunteer who has a special gift for you. We want to provide you with a special blanket as a way to thank you.
This blanket. High Point University, Premier Life Skills University. There is Clark, God, family, country. It’s big enough where two people can cover themselves under it. I don’t want spouses here complaining, “Where is my blanket?” [laughter] You guys get together. Just to thank you for your service. Today, before you leave,
We also want to provide you with a complimentary photo, veterans, with Clark the Eagle, and with Superman, Dean Cain. When our event concludes, you will see the photo station out on the concourse, just past the store of service and sacrifice. We’re instantly printing the photos
For you so you can take it right with you. High Point is also providing everyone here this morning, no jealousy please, everyone here, whether you served in the service or whether you stayed at home in your bed eating donuts, you’re still going to get a gift.
The gift is going to be our God, family, and country T-shirt. Hopefully, they’ll put it up here and you’ll see it. There it is. High Point University. High Point University. [applause] It’s a T-shirt we give to all of our students here. You’ll see them all over the country.
It’s a simple reminder of the values your university cherishes and promotes. The shirts will be available as you exit the arena today, and yes, we have them in every size. We’re prepared. Again, all of that will take place after the benediction, at the conclusion of our event today.
I hope you’ll enjoy the remainder of this program. Let me just say to all of you, thank you for joining us here this morning. Thank you for being the ambassadors of this nation as each of you is. Thank you for loving young people as they maturate, as they matriculate,
As they become leaders, like all of you. Thank you for accepting this gift from High Point University. All of you sitting in the arena, and all of you watching us this morning on the streaming service, thank you for being here and understanding, and those of you standing in the back,
Thank you for being here and sharing with us on this morning. May God bless you, in your goings and your comings, and may the tomorrows of your life be significantly better than the yesterdays of your life [applause] The United States Army. [anthem] First to fight for the right,
And to build the Nation’s might, And the Army goes rolling along Proud of all we have done, Fighting till the battle’s won, And the Army goes rolling along. Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey! The Army’s on its way. Count off the cadence loud and strong For where ever we go, You will always know
That the Army keeps rolling along. [applause] The United States Navy. [anthem] Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh. Farewell to foreign shores, We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay. Through our last night ashore, Drink to the foam, Until we meet once more. Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home. [applause] The United States Coast Guard.
[applause] [anthem] We’re always ready for the call, We place our trust in Thee. Through surf and storm and howling gale, High shall our purpose be. Semper Paratus is our guide, Our fame, our glory, too. To fight to save or fight and die, Aye! Coast Guard, we are for you.
The United States Air Force. [applause] [anthem] Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Climbing high into the sun; Here they come zooming to meet our thunder, At ’em boys, Give ‘er the gun! Down we dive, spouting our flame from under, Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey! Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force! [applause] The United States Marine Corps. [applause] [anthem] From the Halls of Montezuma To the Shores of Tripoli; We fight our country’s battles In the air, on land, and sea; First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean; We are proud to claim the title Of United States Marine. [applause] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, from the class of 2024, Mr. Kema Leonard. [applause] God of love and compassion. Bless our men and women of the United States Military, past, present, and future.
We give thanks to these men and women who sacrificially gave themselves, today that the United States and world might know a better tomorrow. As we depart from this place, you may rest your hand on them, providing your presence, your protection, and perseverance. May we all love and support our veterans
Just as they have loved and supported this land. Go in peace. Amen. [applause]
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