Remembering to Say Thank You

Last Saturday we memorialized my friend, Deacon Paul Carden of Lithonia,Georgia.

Paul was 87 and was taken suddenly last week. He was a quiet force for good in our community for over 60 years.

 At the funeral home the family had displayed photos, Mementos, certificates and on one table, a framed, single-page letter.

Paul was a member of the greatest generation and the formative experience of his life was World War 2. Paul served in the Navy, serving on a troop ship that made 19 crossings of the Pacific during the war.

I took the time to read the letter carefully. The text read as follows:

My Dear Mr. Carden,

I have addressed this letter to reach you after all the formalities of your separation from active service are completed. I have done so because, without formality but as clearly as I know how to say it, I want the Navy's pride in you, which it is my privilege to express, to reach into your civil life and to remain with you always.

You have served in the greatest Navy in the world. It crushed two enemy fleets at once, receiving their surrenders only four months apart.

It brought our land-based airpower within bombing range of the enemy, and set our ground armies on the beachheads of final victory.

It performed the multitude of tasks necessary to support these military operations.

No other Navy at any time has done so much. For your part in these achievements you deserve to be proud as long as you live. The Nation which you served at a time of crisis will remember you with gratitude.

The best wishes of the Navy go with you into civilian life. Good luck!

Sincerely yours,
James Forrestal

Secretary of the Navy

 It was, of course, a form letter. My guess is that the ink signature that was fading was either done by an early auto pen or staff member. It is also my guess that one of Forrestal’s staff or media people drafted the letter for him.

But the letter, and its envelope, was kept, framed and remembered for now over 60 years.

I noted the following elements of the letter.

a. It expresses the pride of the total team in the individual. Paul was a part of a large group, numbering in the millions in the US Navy during that era. But the letter expresses pride in each team members part of the effort.

b. It describes not only the larger cause, but some specific ways the team accomplished the mission.

c. While it never mentioned the specific service of the individual, it speaks of “your part in these achievements” so that the person knows they made a difference.

d. It tells them to be proud of their achievements, in fact, it says “you deserve to be proud.”

e. It expresses the gratitude of the whole nation in an informal way.

f. It mentions that they will be transitioning to another life after these accomplishments.

I try to make it a habit to write thank you notes, letters and other remembrances to those I appreciate. But this letter reminds me that I need to do this with my own team after major efforts.

After your team’s last great accomplishment, who did you thank and how did you do it?

Dave Travis

Managing Director

Leadership Network

Comments

[hilary]

Thanks for this timely reminder to remember to say 'thanks' and for the elements you pulled out of it - I think any recipient of a letter containing these elements would feel appreciated and involved, and more likely want to be involved again. We're doing a Christmas 'Walk-through'and Display this year at Living Well church, Rotorua,NZ, so I'll use them when I write to thank people.