In anticipation of Veterans Day—a federal holiday that commemorates the service of all United States veterans—Pennington centered last week’s Chapel around the guiding principle of service. Dean of Faculty Deborah Fermo addressed the students from a rather unique position: Fermo is a retired U.S. Navy aviator who gave twenty-three years of service to her country. During her naval career, Fermo flew on two operational deployments in the Persian Gulf, where she piloted the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter, which is the Navy’s version of the Army Blackhawk. 

In her speech, Fermo referenced her many friends and comrades who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country while on missions in the Middle East. And yet, as Fermo explained, “As much as service has to do with sacrifice and loss, it is mostly about love. Love of another person, love of a cause, love of country.” The former pilot believes that when we talk about service, we are simply talking about love in a different form.  

Certainly, as Fermo acknowledges, “true and honest service to and for others requires sacrifice and sacrifice can be hard.” For our veterans, those hardships are often tied to loss, whether it is the loss of a fellow soldier,  the loss of time with loved ones, or even the loss of self. “When a military member returns home, there is loss as they struggle to reassimilate with people who haven’t had the same experiences—who used to know you before you “lost” a critical part of who you used to be.”

In her closing remarks, Fermo challenged the students to find something “bigger, better, and beyond yourself,” and work in service towards it. Every November 11, it is common practice to thank a member of the military for their service as a way to pay tribute to our veterans. Fermo encouraged the audience to follow up that ‘thank you” with a question or two for themselves: “Who or what have I served today? What am I willing to sacrifice for the good of others?” The way Fermo sees it, the measure of her own life has very little to do with her own personal accomplishments. “It is only when you feel as though you have given something, lost something, sacrificed something,—served something—that you can truly live.” 

Thank you, Commander Fermo, and the countless other Pennington faculty and alumni veterans who have selflessly given their time and effort in service to our country.