The Greatest Generation
Not long ago, Tom Brokaw, a well known newsman and author wrote a book about the heroic sacrifices that the men and women during World War II made to stop Hitler and his allies and save our nation and the world from tyranny. The name of that book was The Greatest Generation. Now there is absolutely no question that the tremendous effort and self sacrifice that our grandfathers and grandmothers made during those dark days represents very best of what America is all about. We will never be able to thank them enough for what they did to preserve this great country for us and for our children.
But there may be another greatest generation that deserves recognition as well. And that generation is the next one. The reason that generation has the chance to be the greatest generation as well is that we have the chance, right now as the parents, the guardians, the teachers, the Boy Scout leaders, the Sunday School teachers and the mentors of these young people to show them what greatness is and how they too can be for their times the greatest generation.
To help the next generation to demonstrate that kind of greatness, we must instill in them a sense of community awareness, devotion and pride that will generate from everything they do. If the next generation is only what used to be called “the me generation”, they will only do what makes them happy right now. Greatness comes from doing something that means something for the community. So by teaching our youth how to be involved in community service from a very early age, we equip them to be as great as any generation that came before.
Being of service to the community is a skill and an attitude that is caught and not taught. So by making sure we, as the adults in their lives, are always looking for ways to get involved in community service, the youth will mimic our behavior as youth will always do and they will catch the fever and get a taste for community service that will last a lifetime.
A wise man once said about helping the poor that if you give a man a fish he is fed for a day but if you teach him to fish, he is fed for a lifetime. This ethic is true about teaching our youth that community service is fun and that neighbors helping neighbors is what makes life worth living. That is teaching our kids to fish. And the result will be a love of community service that will last a lifetime.
We have good mentors in our quest to raise the greatest generation. And there are outstanding youth organizations that thrive on community service and passing the torch to the next generation. From Boy Scouts to school clubs to youth groups to the YMCA, wherever there are mentors of youth, there is community service going on.
How will we know if our quest to make the next generation great is a success? The clues will come quietly. When you hear your son or daughter leave the house with enthusiasm to go join in on a project to clean up the park or to sign up at the library to help children to read, you can reflect that you are witnessing the birth in that child a love of giving and a love of community service that will last a lifetime. That is the spirit that made the World War II generation great. By empowering our children to be servants of the community, they too will become for their times, the greatest generation.
More Articles
Community Services For The Rich
Merchants Reach Out To Support Community Service Projects
Getting The Government Out Of Community Service Projects
Helping Hands Around The World
Plan A Different Kind Of Christmas
Products And Downloads
Free Videos
More Articles And News
... and arguably the largest national coordinated community service event of all time. The event we see on television is only the forward front of a full scale nationwide campaign that sweeps across the country each year. It is one of the most ambitious and well organized community service efforts of all ...
Merchants Reach Out To Support Community Service Projects
... often we sit around and wait for the government to kick in and make our lives better and improve things are broken down. We put too much value on the idea that I paid my taxes, not the mayor can just get down here and fix our park . The pivotal word in that complaint is our . The town you live in and ...
Real Patriotism And The Concept Of Deeds
... patriotism because we tend to associate patriotism with love of the country as a whole. But none of us live in the country as a whole. Each of us lives in a community that taken together make this wonderful country as great as it is. The country isn t great because it photographs well from space. It is ...
Plan A Different Kind Of Christmas
... long time to come. But to really make the joy of Christmas become the joy of reaching out to others, serving Christmas dinner to the homeless or to those who are down and out will be an experience that will change the way your children view Christmas forever. You don t have to necessarily open your home ...
... it depicted on The Flintstones. These organizations which include The Lions Club, The Rotary Club, The Scottish Rite, The Knights of Columbus, The Kiwanis and the Shiners go back many generations in our culture and provide valuable networking opportunities for men in every community they serve. There ...
Predicto Tops Nielsen Charts for Premium Mobile Services - MarketWatch
Predicto Tops Nielsen Charts for Premium Mobile Services MarketWatch - "Predicto is a fun mobile community," said Eyal Yechezkell, CEO and co-founder of the service. "We have seen such great enthusiasm for the service from our ... |
Van Nuys Airport's 80th Anniversary Event Honors Life-Saving ... - MarketWatch
Van Nuys Airport's 80th Anniversary Event Honors Life-Saving ... MarketWatch - "Our event not only commemorated the airport's leadership in aviation and legacy of community service, but honored the dedicated men and women who ... |
Taylor, Brazley honored for their community services - Southtown Star
Taylor, Brazley honored for their community services Southtown Star, IL - According to foundation officials, "Bill felt it was extremely important to support our community and the future of our students. ... |
Links Inc. celebrates 25 years of service on Friday - Albany Herald On-line
Links Inc. celebrates 25 years of service on Friday Albany Herald On-line, GA - ALBANY — For 25 years, a special group of African-American women in Southwest Georgia have linked themselves to the ideal of community service through ... |
Retirement community ramping up its services - Bizjournals.com
Retirement community ramping up its services Bizjournals.com, NC - Both communities serve retired officers and their spouses and feature a range of residential options, health care services, and even various dining venues. ... |
Beverly Goulet to be honored for her community service - TheDay
Beverly Goulet to be honored for her community service TheDay, CT - Goulet was delighted at the concept and over the years, social workers from her staff have worked closely with Bethsaida Community, Inc. and the Katie Blair ... |
Agency hosts social service fair to aid homeless - Nashua Telegraph
Agency hosts social service fair to aid homeless Nashua Telegraph, NH - In the main room, agencies – such as the Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services and Marguerite's Place – had set up tables and booths ... |
Community service marked Bud Robinson’s life in FL - Forest Lake Times
Community service marked Bud Robinson’s life in FL Forest Lake Times, MN - Fire service was just one of the many ways that Robinson served his community. Neil W. “Bud” Robinson moved to Forest Lake with his parents in 1938. ... |
After 3 tries, Center of Hope victorious - Rockford Register Star
After 3 tries, Center of Hope victorious Rockford Register Star, IL - The center also partners with organizations like the Rockford Park District, Lifescape Community Services, On the Waterfront, Patriots Gateway Center and ... Excelsior Award presenter's speech: Kay Larrick, Carpenter's Place ... Excalibur Award presenter's speech: Richard Nordloff Mental health advocate given award |
Pool, museum, community center, employees on city's chopping block - San Jose Mercury News
Pool, museum, community center, employees on city's chopping block San Jose Mercury News, USA - "We provide a big service, and I think it's going to be a loss for the whole community," Lienau Thompson said. Last year, 35000 visitors toured the Surfing ... |