WHAT VETERANS DAY MEANS TO ME
“There is no greater calling than service to country” by CHRISSY HOULAHAN
Over 11,000 members have roamed the storied history. halls of the United States House of Representatives, Like many kids in military families, I moved but fewer than 10 have been female veterans. As one a dozen times before finishing high school. of those female veterans, I feel an enormous honor But through it all, I felt the call to serve too. I and responsibility to be a attended Stanford on a strong voice for all veterans, ROTC scholarship to study but especially for the fastest Industrial Engineering growing demographic of and went on to serve three veterans – women. For many of years on active duty at us, Veterans Day is profoundly Hanscom Air Force Base meaningful and as our nation in Massachusetts, working evolves and grows, so does our on air and space defense veteran community. Despite technologies. After 13 years our country’s changes and in the Air Force Reserves, challenges, our commitment I hung up my uniform, but to our nation’s values is the I was not done with my constant that unifies us. This service to country. year, we must renew our calls I tell this story because for a nation rooted in service to the thread of service is others. often woven through For me, the call to serve our generations of families. nation began many years ago. When I think of Veterans It’s not an exaggeration to say Day, I think first of my dad Future Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan my earliest memories are of the and grandfather (and my with her parents. military – I was born on base, mom and grandmother), at my father’s duty station, NAS and then my many friends Pax River, on the Patuxent River and family members When I think of Veterans in Maryland. serving on active duty right My father, Andrew “Andy” now. Now, as a Member of Day, I think first of my dad Jampoler, was born in war torn Congress, I also think of and grandfather (and my Poland to Jewish parents in the countless veterans I’ve mom and grandmother), and met and spoken to in our 1942. He was hidden in plain sight with a Christian family as community. Their stories then my many friends and a “Hidden Child.” Immediately inspire my work down in family members serving on after the war, he came to Washington every day. active duty right now. America with his young mother. Especially this time of year, They were refugees. As a young I’m reminded that there is man, he joined the Navy where no greater calling than he would serve for more than 30 years as a naval service to one’s nation. aviator, including a year in Vietnam. In fact, my parents And if there’s one thing veterans understand, it met when my father and grandfather flew P-3s together is that service never stops. in the same Navy squadron. Eventually, the ‘skipper’s When I was elected to Congress, I felt it was daughter’ caught my dad’s eye. And, well, the rest is a continuation of my service to the country that 14
RIPON FORUM Veterans Day 2021
