On Service: A Tribute to My Grandfather
“A dollar a day” ─ a quote from my grandfather, Juan B. Mora (1917–2016), that would serve as one of my earliest childhood lessons on service. My grandfather would proudly recount his youth in the Civilian Conservation Corps, “The CCC.” He earned a dollar a day, he would say, and at the end of each month he would send twenty-five dollars back home to his family. I recall his enthusiasm each time that he told me his stories of early morning reveille. The look of self-confidence and pride in his eyes from having completed years of hard work in The CCC. The CCC came about in the early 1930s, as part of President FDR’s New Deal program. It spurred my grandfather from being a young man who lived on a small ranch in Chilili, NM, to being a much stronger, resilient, and socially connected man who believed in giving back to his country through service.
My grandfather worked during the Great Depression, an era that called for new ways of thinking, working, and leading. During this turbulent, uncertain, and challenging time, individuals came together for the common purpose and larger end goal of economic renewal. Young men and women from all walks of life contributed by building much-needed public services and infrastructure for our country, while actively adding value to their own lives. In the CCC military-style camps, U.S. Army reserve officers served as stewards by translating their knowledge, training, and experiences to lead young recruits through the important work of conservation. This included the construction of trails, roads, and bridges, the planting of trees and the preservation of public lands. These are the public lands that form many of our beautiful and majestic state and national parks today.
For over ninety-eight years, my grandfather’s life spanned the better part of a century in our country. His legacy includes being the father of five daughters, the grandfather of two grandchildren, and a pioneer with over twenty years in public service. He took great pride in being an American citizen. He knew that his initial investment of sweat, blood, and tears as a conservationist would yield positive dividends for him, his family, and future generations of Americans. He shared many stories with me and passed along a profound lesson: ‘…service to our country is not an antiquated idea; it means working together to pursue larger goals in the face of great challenges.’
Today, our world is volatile, uncertain, and complex while we are confronted with many unforeseen and monumental challenges. Adapting to a highly ambiguous and dynamic environment requires that we all come to the table and start a national conversation on service. Innovative groups such as The Franklin Project (under the direction of General (Ret.) Stanley McChrystal), The Mission Continues and Team Rubicon have captured the American spirit of service for the 21st century. And yet long-term sustainability requires an investment from all partners, including leaders in government, education, healthcare and social sectors. Together, we can collaborate, create, and grow possibilities to renew our global economy.
Listening to my grandfather has been essential to my life-long education as an American citizen. He taught me about expressing gratitude, honoring service, and seeking purpose in our shared democracy. My love for my grandfather has stayed with me, first when I served in the U.S. Army overseas in Iraq and now as I serve my community at home. For me, service is a way of life and part of the core values passed down by my family. I believe that service will help us to adapt, grow, and innovate as global citizens. I believe that service can be a viable, feasible, and desirable path to actively empower young people to chart a new undiscovered path to the future. As my grandfather taught me, a generational commitment of service can be an important reinvestment for building a stronger, resilient, and more socially connected United States of America.
