Chris
forwarded this email to me yesterday from a newsletter he receives. The
newsletter is written by Doug Cartland, who writes and presents about
leadership. (Doug's Website) With Doug’s permission, I’m reprinting it for you below.
I might
blog about this tomorrow, or might simply let it be. I was very moved by this
marine and young boy. I saw examples of great leadership, what good teaching
can look like, and simply honor exemplified.
I will be
sharing this post, along with the article linked inside of it, with my students
this fall. We’re starting off the year with a great deal of discussions around
character and I’m planning to help them look to what type of person they want
to be.
Enjoy.
**************
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Charlevoix is a small harbor town, tucked into the far
northern reaches of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It's beautiful, round
Lake Charlevoix is connected by a pretty channel to Lake Michigan and is a
natural harbor for lake faring boats.
It was also the place of a profound display of leadership just
a couple of weekends ago....
Lance Corporal Myles Kerr finished last in the Jeff Drenth
Memorial 5K Footrace in Charlevoix, a community event for all ages, shapes
and sizes.
Kerr is a healthy, athletic, strapping nineteen-year-old
Marine. He finished so far behind his buddies, however, that they were
concerned that he had gotten hurt.
What gives?
Also running in the race was a nine-year-old boy named Boden
Fuchs. Boden was not very athletic and he was slowly but surely slipping
further and further behind the pack. He had become separated from the group
he had come to run with.
The young man was lopping along alone, hot, tired, about ready
to quit.
Peering back, Lance Corporal Kerr spied Boden struggling.
Complete with his full backpack, wearing boots and fatigues, he circled back
to the boy.
Kerr asked Boden if he was okay. The nine-year-old was now
well back of the closest runner.
He looked up at the Marine. "Sir, would you please run
with me?" he asked.
The Lance Corporal agreed.
There is a wonderful picture of Lance Corporal Myles Kerr
running alongside nine-year-old Boden Fuchs, encouraging him, telling him
that he would be okay and that he would be with him to the finish. Check it
out here:
In the end, Lance Corporal Kerr slid behind Boden, allowing
the boy to finish five seconds ahead of him. After they drank some fluids,
the Marine helped the boy find and reunite with his group.
Kerr certainly ran true to the Marine credo that there will be
"no one left behind."
But more than that, he proved that true leadership isn't
always leading from the front...and it's not always finishing first.
Sometimes when it's at its most profound, leadership's rewards are least
noticed...in hidden places.
Indeed, sometimes leadership is at its best when, rather than
running with the elite, it slows its pace...reaches out a hand...lends its
encouragement...to the weak. And by that makes the weak stronger than it
thought it could be.
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