The Connector: Edition 142
May 20th, 2026 | The Connector
Last Friday, I had the honor of attending the ROTC commissioning ceremony for Widener University’s graduating class at Latham Hall, and I left genuinely moved.
As a Trustee of Widener University, a role I hold with tremendous pride, I was privileged to witness something truly special: parents pinning their sons’ and daughters’ uniforms and the moment of their very first salute. There’s something about watching that exchange that simply stops you in your tracks
We began by standing together, listening to the Star-Spangled Banner, and looking at our flag. In that moment, it wasn’t just a song or a symbol. It was a reminder of everything that the flag represents: the freedom we often take for granted and the generations of men and women who have sacrificed to protect it.
A Veteran took the stage and delivered some of the most grounding advice I’ve heard in a long time, four simple lessons that apply well beyond the military:
🔹 Don’t be average. Go the extra mile, every single time. Average is forgettable. Excellence is a choice.
🔹 Look in the mirror every single day because once you believe in yourself, others will too. It all starts there.
🔹 Do not walk past the problem. Stop, help, and try to fix it. Leaders don’t look the other way.
🔹 Be humble in victory and magnanimous in defeat. Just stop and read that one again.
What struck me most was the energy in that room. These are young men and women, so ready, so proud, and so genuinely excited to serve and protect this country. They are now waiting for their orders. Let that sink in for a moment.
This Memorial Day weekend, when you put your flag out, I hope you’ll pause and think about them. Think about what that flag means to the families who watched their sons and daughters get pinned that morning. Think about the freedom it represents and the price that has always been paid to preserve it.
I was proud to be in the room that day. Proud of these graduates. Proud of this country. And deeply grateful for every person, past and present, who has answered the call to serve.
Happy Memorial Day. Please don’t forget to fly your flag!
CEO & Founder
The O'Connor Group