The following letter was written by Reading resident Jay Tangney, a US Navy veteran and General Counsel at Suffolk Construction
Veterans Day annually provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of service. I think about this as a U.S. Navy veteran and now as the proud father of a new U.S. Army officer who recently qualified as an Army Ranger. Placing the coveted Ranger Tab on Coltan’s left shoulder was the honor of my life, reminding me that service to this beautiful, complicated and free country endures over generations. And it involves real sacrifice.
My own Navy experience taught me lessons that continue to guide me today, such as the value of teamwork, preparation and satisfaction from doing the work that matters. Acts of service make a real difference not only in the military, but in our daily life, in ways big and small.
In the private sector, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside many veterans. After nine years at Suffolk Construction, one of the things I’m proud of is our Veterans Group where we currently employ over 100 veterans. Suffolk recruits from the active-duty military force for many reasons. Veterans are generally highly motivated self-starters who want to work hard, achieve and excel.
Massachusetts is home to more than 300,000 veterans — people who have served our country and returned to serve our communities. Their leadership shows up in classrooms, job sites, and community centers across the Commonwealth — serving as a quiet but constant example of service in action.
Nearly everyone who serves in our military today volunteered. They signed the dotted line willingly, regardless of the uncertainty, risks and sacrifice. Since our country’s founding, more than 1.1 million Americans have died in service to our flag. We continue to enjoy freedom in the United States – and in other places around the world – because of their unwavering commitment to our country. The freedoms we often take for granted were not inevitable. They were earned.
My Uncle Bo understood that deeply. He landed at Utah Beach on D-Day with the 226th Combat Engineers and spent 186 days on the front lines. When the war ended, he stayed overseas, volunteering for another year to help investigate Nazi war crimes at Nuremberg instead of returning home to his family. An American Hero to all who knew him.
On Veterans Day, we have the chance to show our appreciation for our service members by performing our own acts of service. Service doesn’t always mean wearing a uniform. It can mean volunteering at a local shelter, helping a neighbor, or simply showing up for someone who needs support. When we choose to serve, in whatever form that takes, we strengthen the fabric of our communities. The veterans among us understand that better than anyone.
This week, as we honor those who have worn our nation’s uniform, I hope we take a moment to reflect on how we might serve in our own way — with purpose, gratitude, and integrity. That’s how we can best honor those who have already done so much for us.
Jay Tangney is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Suffolk, and a U.S. Navy veteran who lives in Massachusetts
