Military Speech 2025

By C. Clark (edit by ChatGPT)

Opener

Autumn has always reminded me of change—the way leaves fall, the way the air sharpens, the way light shifts toward longer nights. And in times of uncertainty, I find myself reflecting on the changes I’ve witnessed before, and how they shaped the way I see the world today.🍁

Voicing My Opinion

I’ve been wondering if I should start voicing my opinion on current events. It feels like everyone has a podcast or a social media account these days—sharing their views, weighing in on every headline. Do we really need more voices talking? Then I remember the saying, “Your voice matters” and “Silence is acquiescence.” With the latest “Military Meeting” involving some of the top brass in the military, I realized I could no longer stay silent.

This is what I posted this morning on my social media:

“I lived in Germany when there was still a Berlin Wall—when news reports showed people being shot trying to climb over it, desperate to leave. We visited Dachau, where political prisoners were held (1933–1938). I lived in Germany when Iranian women were still dressing like we did back then.

Believe me, people’s bias and hate toward immigrants, people of color, and women’s rights; the false promise of better egg and gas prices; the belief that both political parties are the same—none of it is worth the direction we’re heading. None of it is worth losing our ‘Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.’”

I’m not a Veteran, but I am a Military Brat. My father retired as a full-bird Colonel. I was young during those years in Germany, but I was old enough to remember. I remember our school trip to the Berlin Wall and being told not to take photos because we might be shot at. I remember visiting Dachau—something most people don’t even know about.

Lately, all of this has been on my mind. I would think about it, and sometimes someone would say something to ease my worry. But after the recent meeting with Hegseth and Trump, I felt like nothing could calm me. Everything said there was absolutely wild to hear. And yet—there was one Retired Military Officer who spoke up and said the military would not follow an illegal order, that they would not turn on the American people they are sworn to protect.

That eased my mind a little. As a Military Brat, that’s the belief I grew up with. That’s the military I knew and felt proud of. I can only hope it turns out to be true.

🍁 Closing Reflection:

As the leaves fall this season, I’m reminded that history is full of cycles—moments of division, fear, and uncertainty. But just like Autumn, those seasons eventually give way to renewal. My hope is that the values I grew up with—the honor, the service, the promise of protection—remain deeply rooted, steady as the oaks, no matter how fierce the winds of change may blow.