Veterans Aid Was recognized at the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans annual benefit dinner. Here is the speech Matthew gave in honor of the special occasion.
OCTOBER 23 2011 at the Ft. Snelling Officer’s Club in St Paul, MN
“Thank you Kathy for that humbling introduction!
I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many leaders and active citizens around this town, but it never fails that at some point along the way I will hear the words, “I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this!” come out their mouth through a tone of irrational, but inevitable, frustration. It is at that point I say, “Well I have someone you should meet!… Her name is Kathy Vitalis and the good lord blessed her with one extra gear than he does most, and she never shies away from staying in that gear.”
Kathy has been such and inspiration and such a great leader and I know everyone here thanks you for all the hard work you and everyone at MAC-V have done.
Somewhere between reality and social stigma, lies the reason we are all here tonight. Certain truths have affected us all in some form or fashion,. One simple truth is that not everything always goes as planned… or even as hoped. That’s something that applies to anyone who has ever lived a day on this planet. It is a reality, that we as people do encounter obstacles, and that we are faced with challenges throughout our lives, and at times it can be a struggle to face them.
Just shy of 3 years ago, I went head on with many obstacles and challenges as I made my transition from soldier to civilian after 5 years of more than demanding service. Much of that was spent over seas and at times in hostile environments. When I returned home, I found that facing those obstacles and challenges was a struggle for me, and is still to this day the toughest one I’ve ever had to face. I felt like an outsider. I felt different. I felt alone. As I look back now, I can see the irony in that.
Here I had returned home, but in no way shape or form felt at “home“. Over the course of my journey and while facing those challenges, I learned one important lesson…. That is, to get through those times, you need to have something that gives you the perspective to see at least a potential for positive outcome. It’s important to find a window of hope to look through. Its important to be able to see a door that leads to the future.
Everyone in this room should stand proud tonight as you are here and part of MAC-Vs family, and for so many, MAC-V is that window of hope… and is that door to the future.
I’m honored to stand here tonight and represent one small voice and hopefully a guiding light. I can’t thank everyone at MAC-V enough for what they do and provide, and I can’t thank everyone here enough for supporting that. MAC-V has given so many efforts, to include the Veterans Aid Concert, a place to shine their light. Though its important to keep advocating to our communities about the issues and challenges that many of our nations veterans are faced with, I have personally found that nothing gives society more hope than to be able to speak of solutions and point to the path of positive outcome.
So, on that note… and on behalf of every veteran who has faced the honor, privilege and challenges that come with that title… I sincerely thank you for helping to keep that path clear ,and for helping us find it when we loose our way… And please don’t ever forget that the path you safe guard, is the one that brings us all the way home.
Thank you,”
- Matthew J. Griswold
Matthew then performed “Fading Away”
