VIRGINIA BEACH — It is my honor and privilege to serve as Mayor of Virginia Beach, the largest city by population in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Much of the preparation to take on this awesome responsibility goes back to the moral compass and leadership traits I acquired as a United States Marine.
I could not be more proud to have served my country in the military just as I am serving the City of Virginia Beach today.
The sacrifices are not the same, of course, but the rewards are surprisingly similar.
In the Marines, I learned about “Semper Fidelis,” the ideal that we always will be faithful, and esprit de corps, which speaks to our devotion to a common cause.
While serving on Virginia Beach City Council, I have learned patience and working for something greater than ourselves.
Through both, I have learned that we all come from different backgrounds, we but are united by one import thing – the realization that you can’t do it by yourself.
It’s about we, not me.
So teamwork and reciprocal loyalty aren’t just nice words to say. They become part of one’s professional, personal and — for me — political life. It’s not what you do. It’s who you are.
That’s part of the reason Memorial Day, which approaches as I write this, carries a great deal of meaning.
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