The following was an address given to student assemblies on Friday at the Galvin Middle School.
By CAPTAIN CHRISTIAN CONCESSI
United States Marine Corps
Good morning everyone,
Thank you for having me, it is an honor to come out here and speak to you all about Veterans Day. Veterans Day is a day of celebration; we celebrate all of those who raised their right hand and swore an oath to protect our great country. Over the last 250 years, millions of Americans have served, and roughly 7% of the US population are veterans.
Who knows the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day? On Memorial Day we remember those who gave their lives to defend our country and our way of life. It is not to say they are not remembered on Veterans Day, or every day for that matter.
On Veterans Day we celebrate the people who make it possible for us to be free. Being free and having freedom can be as simple as going to school; in Afghanistan, girls are not allowed to go to school, they had to stay home. We spent 20 years fighting in that country and against evil ideals such as this one. Freedom is being able to speak your mind, saying you like Taylor Swift, or saying you like or don’t like the president and the current administration. You are encouraged to exercise your freedoms.
When I was deployed, I helped a woman and her family escape the Taliban. She was born in America but moved to Afghanistan as an adult to reconnect with her family. She told me how she built her dream home in the mountains and was surrounded by family and loved living there. But when the government in Afghanistan collapsed in 2021, and the Taliban took over again; if she stayed, she would have lost all her freedom. It was very fortunate that I saw her US passport among a huge crowd of people also attempting to flee the country. I pulled her through the gate and asked her how many people she was with so we could pull them through as well. There were 17 people. With her helping to identify them, we evacuated her and entire family to safety.
These freedoms we enjoy did not come free; it came at the price of months and in some times years spent overseas and in harm’s way. Our veterans paid for our freedom by leaving the comfort and security of their hometowns and headed toward the unknown. The price was countless missed birthdays of loved ones and missed holiday celebrations with their families.
This might make you wonder, why would anyone sign up for this? Who would want to miss their friends’ birthdays, and Christmas at home? And it is fair question. It is the same type who stop a bully in the hallway when they could have kept walking, they are the same type of people who help someone who spilled their homework on the floor in class and instead of stepping over it on their way out. They are often referred to as “the best our nation has to offer.” These are our veterans and servicemen and women.
I want to share some values that were developed in me in the service. And my intent is for you to learn the lessons it took me almost 30 years to learn, and bring them back to your classrooms, your homes and your communities. These values aren’t reserved for servicemen and women, they belong to all of us.
When I was in middle school and high school, I got in trouble, a lot. I would be late, I wouldn’t do homework, I goofed off with my friends when I shouldn’t have. Nobody is perfect, and I turned it around, and anyone can. I made the decision to be the person people rely on, on time, now my work is done and done well, and I still goof off with my friends, but only when the time is right.
I saw the Galvin Middle School’s core values online and I must admit I like them — ICARE: Integrity, Community, Acceptance, Relationships and Excellence.
When I joined the Marine Corps, I learned quickly that excellence is a choice. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about holding yourself to a standard, even when no one’s watching. Whether it’s showing up to work on time, or staying late to get the job done right, small acts of pride in your work build strong people and strong teams. If you take pride in what you do — in your
schoolwork, your job, or how you treat others — you’re already living a lesson the military teaches every day.
In the boot camp of every branch, you are taught early on that no one succeeds alone. Every mission depends on the person to your left and right — just like every successful project, every classroom, and every community depends on people working together. That’s still true in my career today, working with tradesmen and builders. The best teams aren’t made of the strongest people — they’re made of people who trust each other, who look out for each other, and who get the job done no matter what.
And if you want to lead someday, remember leadership isn’t about being in charge — it’s about taking care of those in your charge.
The Marines also taught me something simple but powerful — growth only comes from challenge. There were times when the weather was foul, the days seemed to never end, and the operation we spent days planning, fell apart in a matter of seconds. But you learn that if you stay calm, adapt, and push forward, you’ll come out stronger on the other side.
Those lessons have helped me every day — as a leader, a partner, and a father. When things get hard — whether it’s a big test, a relationship, or anything in life — don’t give up. You will only know how strong you can be when you overcome things that challenge or scare you. Because toughness isn’t about never failing — it’s about never quitting.
There is a story about the sheep, the wolf, and the sheepdog. Most people, it says, are like sheep — kind, peaceful, and just wanting to live their lives. Then there are wolves, who use their strength to harm and take advantage of others. But between them stand the sheepdogs — the protectors.
The sheepdog doesn’t exist to hurt anyone. He exists to stand guard, to serve others, and to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Our veterans and current service members are some of our sheepdogs. Men and women who made a choice to serve, to protect, and to lead with courage.
But the truth is, you don’t need to wear a uniform to be a sheepdog.
When you stand up for someone being picked on, when you do the right thing even when no one else is looking, when you go the extra mile to help your team — you’re showing the sheepdog spirit.
The last lesson I will leave you with is this: leave it better than you found it. Whether it’s a bunker, the school cafeteria, or a friendship — the goal is to make it stronger, cleaner, or better because you were there. Pick up trash even if it isn’t yours, say good morning to someone even if you don’t know them, admit when you are wrong and learn from it. If you live that way, you’ll build a life that makes an impact — one small act at a time.
So today, on Veterans Day, when you see a veteran — maybe a family member, or a teacher-take a moment to say thank you. Not just for what they did, but for what they stood for. And if you really want to honor veterans, don’t just celebrate us — live the values we fought for.
Be disciplined. Be a good teammate. Embrace the hard days. Be a sheepdog — stand up for others. Leave things better than you found them. If you do that, you’ll carry the same spirit that makes a Marine- and you’ll make your community proud.
Thank you.