Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. This is a time of year that we reflect back upon the many blessings we have received and are grateful.
Thinking back on the year past, I can’t help thinking about my many friends and the many new ones that I have met or heard from.
I’m grateful for my friends and of course for my family. I’m thankful that my Mom and Dad brought my sister and I into a wonderful community and gave us a very meaningful childhoood with good family values as well as a love of our country and its people.
I think of my Grandma and Grandpa and the life they had coming to this great country of ours. I think of how they raised their children to be respectful, honest and hardworking even during the difficult times.
I am grateful that I have been able to do the things that I have done. I like to think I have motivated others to do the same.
I’m grateful to have had the pleasure to speak to so many of our Military Men and Women. They will be in my thoughts tomorrow.
We all have a special gift to give, make sure to share yours.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving,

Lee

Veteran's Day Tribute

Hi all,
This morning I was filled with American pride to speak before over 1,500 students who are here in New York City taking part in Veteran’s Day. "The Band of Pride Tribute" concert led by Dr .Kenneth Dye, musical director of The University of Notre Dame took place from 7:30am-9am on Thursday, November 10th at Duffy Square in the heart of New York City's Times Square, as a way to jump start the day of remembrance and patriotism. Many of the students who performed will proudly march, on Veteran's Day, in the 92nd NYC Veterans Day Parade along its historic Fifth Avenue Route in New York City.

This morning I shared with them how easy for me to turn to hatred in response to my son Jonathan being killed on 9/11, but I don’t even like the word ‘hatred’. I like the words ‘education’ and ‘enlightenment’. We need to provide education about 9/11 for all young people so they can learn what happened on 9/11 and how to make tomorrow a better day. I think we should not be afraid to talk about radical Islamic fundamentalists and we should understand that they do not represent the millions of Muslim people around the world who do not support acts of terrorism. Tomorrow on Veteran’s Day when you step off and play your first note on your instruments, play it loud and the best you have ever played - many will be listening like these behind me in uniform, and those who are deployed around the world, those who have been wounded and for those who are no longer here with us so they can hear you to.

God bless you, God Bless our men and women in uniform and yes God Bless America.
Lee