Volusia County (FL) Council Meeting
6 July 2017
Brandon Haught (321 words - 2:25)

Thank you Mr. Chairman, council members and citizens,

The recent Independence Day celebrations had me reflecting back on my military service a few decades ago. One aspect of serving in the Marine Corps has always stuck with me: you never leave a fellow Marine behind. When one Marine is in trouble, other Marines are there to help and support. Now, that doesn't mean everyone was the best of friends, but Marines take care of their own regardless.

I served in Oklahoma City in 1995. That was the year of the Federal Building bombing, killing 168 innocent people, including two of my fellow Marines. But it wasn't just the military that came through in a time of great need, it was everyone. The community, the state, the country, the world came together. Never before then had I ever personally witnessed such an outpouring of support and coming together.

Later, I worked here in Volusia County for the Sheriff's Office. I didn't have the honor of serving as a deputy — I was a civilian, but I was comforted by the fact that in the Sheriff s Office everyone took care of everyone else. It could have been helping a deputy in financial distress. It could have been covering a fellow deputy's roof after a hurricane while that deputy was on duty. It could be the response of every law enforcement officer from miles around when there are calls of "shots fired" over the radio. But the bottom line was that they were in it together.

That's the message I want to leave with you today. Everyone has differing personalities and goals and beliefs but we can still all come together to serve the common good. Putting self aside to help others needs to be the overriding objective in any discussion or decision here. It is my sincere hope that we all can achieve and maintain that noble goal.

Thank you for your time.