Over the next two weekends, a number of people will be traveling to south Texas. Their destination is Laredo, where they can attend part of the city's two-week-long George Washington Birthday Celebration. This event, which now draws more than 400,000 people, is one of the largest festivals in south Texas and one of the largest celebrations in the United States to bear the

name of Washington.

It may seem strange that a Washington birthday celebration on the border with Mexico would surpass celebrations in our first president's home state, but then San Antonio's annual Martin Luther King Jr. march surpasses similar observances in southern states where he actively campaigned for civil rights. And it is well known that nothing in Ireland comes close to the St.

Patrick's Day parades in Chicago and New York City. These interesting phenomena are part of the wonder of America.

Laredo's Washington celebration also has an international flavor. It began in 1898 as a means of promoting goodwill between the United States and Mexico. A high point of the celebration is the International Bridge Ceremony, where a boy and a girl wearing American Revolutionary period

costumes meet in the middle of the bridge with a boy and a girl from Nuevo Laredo wearing traditional Mexican costumes. After they exchange hugs, or abrazos, officials and dignitaries from both sides of the bridge also exchange abrazos to symbolize the friendship people from both countries want with each other.

The Washington's Birthday Celebration Association notes that Spanish-speaking people on both American continents have revered the "father of our country." By leading a successful war for independence, Washington inspired Latin American liberators such as Simon Bolivar to launch their own ultimately successful wars for independence.

Of course, many people who go to Laredo for a good time won't think much about Washington. Nevertheless, those of us who belong to the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade have some things we might ponder in light of The Griffin Four:

First, a person can inspire people he or she never knew and events he or she never envisioned. We can't all be a national leader like Washington, but we can inspire others; we have some effect on everyone in our organization with whom we have a transaction. Positive effects add up to cause good things to happen. Our influence on a young Soldier could be one of the accumulated

factors that produce a future national leader. This is why we should be Effective Communicators and Always Professional.

Second, the celebration of historical people honors their ideals and vision, which are more important than any failings they had. While an observance should acknowledge an individual's accomplishments in the past, it should also be an occasion to rededicate ourselves to their ideals and vision in the future. As we say before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, it should be a day on, not a day off. This is when we need More Heart.

Third, diversity, when we acknowledge it and employ it properly, can make a big difference. The coming together of different cultures, which is what our country is all about, can cause organizations as well as events to become stronger. This is where dedicated Teamwork comes in.

Whether you are going to Laredo or anywhere else over the holiday weekend, put safety as your number one priority. There are many decisions we make in life, some good and some bad. However, in our profession the bad decisions will cost more than you could ever anticipate. Remember, you are an individual capable of inspiring a diverse team dedicated to high ideals.

Griffins! Truth, Security, Loyalty!

Hooah!

G6