Millennial Honors an Elder

    Mom and Dad overdosed and died. Fosters became his caregivers. Then Rick's immigrant grandfather gave him a new home, and taught him the meaning of the American spirit...

     What do you say to a panel of life-hardened bureaucrats who've seen the worst humanity can do to itself? That's the squad Rick had to win over to get an appointment in an elite government agency. 

     Prepping him for his interview, I asked, "Why do you want this job? Your fancy East Coast degree guarantees you an office on Wall Street."

     "I want to make the world a more peaceful, better place."

     "OK, Miss America wanna-be, if that's the best you've got, you're not gonna get the crown."

     Then he said...

          My grandfather. That's why. We lived in Hawaii. He was an immigrant who'd gotten

          his citizenship. A young man when Pearl Harbor was attacked, he raced down to

          enlist.While standing in line, the other guys shoved and pushed him around and
          made fun of his bad English and accent and called him some pretty foul names.
          Granddad said, "I didn't care. I wanted to go fight for the greatest country in the

          world. And that's what America is. The greatest country."

          I want this appointment and to make public service my career to honor Granddad
          and all he did for me and the service he gave this country.

     Rick said there wasn't a dry eye on the panel when he said why he wanted the appointment to the agency.

     Rick now proudly serves his country and the memory of his grandfather. ( 265 words)