1. Thank Your Veterans Everyday
Great Movies to Watch Please join us in taking the time this month to say thank you to an
With celebrating the Veterans during the American Veteran. If not for their courage and dedication, we would
month, check out some movies that feature not be able to live in this great country with the freedoms we enjoy.
great action packed thrilling stories. Never take these freedoms for granted. Thank a vet!
WALL OF THANKS: Each of our crew desk offices were sent a set of
Glory recognizing our heroes posters to write names of our employees who
Directors: Edward Zwick
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Denzel served or their family, and a space for co-workers to share their
Washington, Cary Elwes special notes of thanks with our heroes.
Synopsis: Robert Gould Shaw leads
the US Civil War's first all-black
volunteer company, fighting prejudices
of both his own Union army and the
Confederates.
Tuskegee Airmen
Directors: Robert Markowitz
Stars: Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne
and Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Synopsis: The true story of how a Creating Diversity Awareness in the Workplace
group of African American pilots
overcame racist opposition to become November 2011 Newsletter
one of the finest US fighter groups in
World War II
Blackhawk Down
Directors: Ridley Scott
Stars: Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor
and Tom Sizemore
Synopsis: 123 elite U.S. soldiers drop
into Somalia to capture two top
lieutenants of a renegade warlord and
find themselves in a desperate battle
with a large force of heavily-armed
Somalis.
We Were Soldiers
Veterans Awareness Month
Directors: Randall Wallace
Stars: Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe,
Greg Kinnear Give Honor to Whom Honor is Due
Synopsis: The story of the first major
battle of the American phase of the
Vietnam War and the soldiers on both Give Honor To Whom Honor Is Due! - The
sides that fought it. Veterans and Veterans of War who have served or
who are serving in the military or military war are
Saving Private Ryan honored here. We are honoring our War Dead and
Directors: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon and
we are honoring all of our Troops of America who
Tom Sizemore are called to duty. Army, Navy, Air
Synopsis: Following the Normandy Force, Marines, National Guard, Infantry, Coast
Landings, a group of US soldiers go Guard. Many have fallen to protect our freedom
behind enemy lines to retrieve a
paratrooper whose brothers have been
while others will carry the scars of injury all their
killed in action. lives. Amputations, Traumatic Brain Injury and Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder are just some of the
Born on the Fourth of July afflictions suffered by our veterans.
Directors: Oliver Stone
Stars: Tom Cruise, Raymond J. Barry
and Caroline Kava VETERANS DAY 11.11.11
Synopsis: The biography of Ron Kovic. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each
Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he
becomes an anti-war and pro-human
year on November 11th at Arlington National
rights political activist after feeling Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at The Veterans Day National Committee also selects a
betrayed by the country he fought for. 11:00a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the number of regional sites for Veterans Day observances
Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial throughout the country. From stirring parades and
Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ ceremonies to military exhibits and tributes to distinguished
The Staff Management | SMX DPIC includes: Kenyatta Draper, Lupe
Gonzalez, Katie Smith, Jenny Reints, Pat Lach, Avery Yancey, Dayna
organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The veterans, these events serve as models for other
Corona, Jessica Lewis, Justin Schwartz, Robert Cook, Maurice ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who communities to follow in planning their own observances.
Proffit, Jennifer Fielding and Lloyd Weathers served in the United States Armed Forces.
NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER DIVERSITY PROGRAM INCLUSION COUNCIL CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2011

2. Famous People
Buried in Arlington Cemetery
• William Howard Taft
• John F. Kennedy
• Chief Justice Earl Warren
• Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
• Thurgood Marshall
• Robert Peary (Explorer)
• Matthew Henson (Explorer)
• Medgar Evers (Civil Rights Leader)
• Glenn Miller
• Dashiell Hammett
• 3,800 Civil War liberated slaves
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery occupies occupies 612 acres in Virginia on the Potomac River, directly opposite
Washington. This land was part of the estate owned by Martha Washington’s son. A mansion was built on the Veterans of Foreign Wars
property, which later became the home of Robert E. Lee. More than 240,000 service members and their
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
dependents are buried there.
Veterans Organizations United States, (VFW) , is a congressionally
• The American Legion chartered war veterans organization.
Headquartered in Kansas
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier • AMVETS
City, Missouri, the VFW currently has 1.5
In 1921, an Unknown American Soldier of World War I was • Blinded Veterans Association million members belonging to 7,644
buried in Arlington National Cemetery; the monument at the • Disabled Veterans of America posts, and is the largest American
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was opened to the public in organization of combat veterans. Members
• Non-Commissioned Officers Association
1932. Two additional Unknowns , one from World War must be a US citizen or national with an
II, and one from the Korean War, were buried on May • The Military Order of the Purple Heart
honorable discharge from the US Armed
30, 1958. On May 28, 1984, an Unknown from the • Paralyzed Veterans of America
Forces or currently serving in the US Air
Vietnam war was buried, however in June 1998 his body • Veterans of Foreign Wars Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine
was disinterred and DNA testing enabled him to be Corps, or Navy
identified as Michael Blassie,, an Air Force pilot from St.
Louis.
Inscribed on the Tomb at Arlington:
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial is a National Government Organizations
Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. It protects the mansion that
once belonged to Robert E. Lee, widely respected general “HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN that Support Disabled
of the Confederate Army. It is surrounded by the Arlington AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD”
National Cemetery, created during the American Civil War Veterans
with the deliberate purpose of preventing General Lee
from ever returning to his home. • American Red Cross
• Army Emergency Relief
• Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Wounded Warrior Project
Quick Facts About Veterans Day • Vietnam Womens Memorial (Washington D.C.)
• USA Cares
• World War II Memorial (Washington D.C.)
• Veterans Day was once called Armistice Day. • Veterans and Families Coming Home
• Navy Memorial (Washington D.C.)
Armistice Day was created to honor veterans
• Air Force Memorial (Arlington ,Va.)
of WWI.
• National Marine Corps Museum (Triangle, Va.) There are many local charities and efforts
• November 11, 1919, was the first time Armistice
• Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens (Mt.Vernon, Va.) that you can find to give a helping hand to
Day was celebrated. Germany signed the
Armistice slowing the hostilities of WWI in the our soldiers and veterans.
11th month on the 11th day.
• November 11th is both a federal and state holiday. (Pictured Above) Puppies Behind Bars started the Dog Tags program, which places trained service dogs with injured veterans. These
• There are roughly 24 million living veterans. dogs are doing their part to honor the injured soldiers returning from military service by helping them get accustomed to civilian life
again, despite disabilities. (petside.com)
National Events For Veterans Day
NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER DIVERSITY PROGRAM INCLUSION COUNCIL CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE
CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2011
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Washington D.C.)
• Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington, Va.)

3. A Few of Staff Management | SMX’s Proud Veterans
Joe Solisbarba Matthew Rosenberg Avery Yancey Peter Lopez
Managing Director of Operations Program Manager Senior Account Manager Account Supervisor
As with most career
Military persons, my
My role in the I served as an I served two
role changed as I
military was a Airborne Ranger tours in Iraq
progressed through
Topographic for 10 years. with the U.S.
the ranks. I began as
Analyst. Marine Corps
an Aviation Life
Support Technician.
I have worked with not only Special Forces units; Airborne, Ranger, For my final 6 years I served as an Aviation Life Support Technician as I am extremely proud of having served my country in the United
I served in the 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, NC and also in well as a Specialized Marksmanship Instructor and Quality Assurance
Green Beret, Marine Recon, Navy Seals, and Air Force Para-Rescue Stated Marine Corps. Just alone being a Marine is something to
the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan Auditor/Inspector.
but also regular units in all branches and foreign militaries, as well. I be extremely proud of. It is not an easy task to accomplish, you
was fortunate enough to serve with some of the finest men and really have to put everything you have inside of you and it is
How do you spend Veterans day?
How do you spend Veterans day? women, in my opinion, and I have been all around this great country, extremely challenging. I have also served my country by
Normally preparing for the Marine Corps Ball that occurs a month later.
I celebrate Veteran's day by doing something that every service as well as the world. I have seen both the good side and bad side of completing 2 tours in Iraq, for which I am also proud of. Being in
Being a retiree I'm normally not in the area where celebrations occur so I
member talks about when they are away from home, which is to be humanity. I know that service for your country is not for everyone, but the service has helped me in my professional career by enhancing
have to make travel arrangements well in advance of any celebration I
with their family and friends. I start off the morning by watching some this was a choice that I made because it was something I believed in. my communication, decision making, managing/supervising skills,
want to attend.
of the services that are shown on TV and take my moment to The military made me a better person by showing me that people dealing with stress, as well as my demeanor. It has made me the
remember all of my friends in the military and as well as those who from all walks of life can band together for a common cause. I am What did learn from your time serving your country? man that I am today. It has also shown me that nothing is
have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. stronger today because of the skills I learned leading people We as Americans take a lot for granted. Having traveled the globe I've impossible when you put your mind and heart into it. In the
translate into effective management skills in the workplace. had the opportunity to see first hand many of the living conditions for personal life aspect, being in the service made me appreciate and
people throughout the world. Even the simplest of liberties we as value more what I have, and that being my family and friends. It
I know I will always have a love for this country that is hard to explain, Americans hold would be valued treasures to others if they had those taught me to never take anyone for granted. You never know,
What did learn from your time serving your country?
and a vast majority of other veterans will say the same thing, but I privileges. Our military men and women tirelessly protect those who live in one day you may have them and the next day you don’t.
I learned the true meaning of Esprit de Corps as well as unconditional
love for this country. I also learned that not all Americans understand can promise you one thing; if you stop to thank a veteran, or even this country and they do it without hesitation and not expecting anything
talk to one, that means a lot to us. For it is not only for us that we in return. Recently on a trip from Baltimore to St. Louis I sat in that airport One piece of advice that I will give though, is that one of the
nor appreciate the great country that they live in. Although I was born
served, but also for you, and the freedoms that you are afforded. and an announcement came over the loud speaker. The announcement biggest compliments or things that one could do for a veteran or
in Mexico and always consider my ethnicity as Mexican, the USA is
informed everyone in the airport that some WWII veterans were arriving even a current service member is to thank them for their service.
my adopted country and I was proud to volunteer to defend the ideals
and that they would be coming through the airport. They asked if For many people this may not mean much, but to us it could mean
and liberties of this great country of ours.
everyone would applaud them as they passed by, and thankfully a large the world and it reminds us that what we have done and sacrificed
majority of observers did in fact stand and applaud as they passed is not forgotten.
through. Within minutes of the WWII veterans passing through a young
Do you apply any of those teachings to your current position
service man passed through, his camouflage uniform still somewhat dusty
with Staff Management |SMX?
from the desert of the land he'd just left. Not a sound was made as he
There were some additional things that I learned in the Marines which
walked by, yet he still walked with his head held high and a smile on his
have assisted me in my time with Staff Management. One of those
face. He was just glad to be home, in America, and the lack of an applaud
was learning to work with people of different backgrounds. Growing
didn't matter because that's not what he expected for his service. How do
up in LA allows one to learn from diverse groups already but you are
I know? I stopped him, and thanked him for serving and asked how he
limited to people with the same "city" background. In the Marines I
felt.
was able to meet people from all over the US like Nebraska, New
England and Texas. Do you apply any of those teachings to your current position with
Staff Management | SMX?
This allowed me to have less of a cultural shock when I started What I apply to my current position is the honor, courage, and
traveling with Staff Management (of course with the exception of commitment instilled in me throughout my entire military career. Having
Kentucky and their "dry-county") and I was given the opportunity to been the graduate of two military academies I've had the opportunity to
continue to work in a diverse work place. The other lesson learned in learn all levels of leadership. But before I could become a leader I had to
the Marines that I still use to this day, is to Lead By Example. I take first learn how to follow. The military ranking system serves many
this lesson to heart every day and make sure that I am prepared to purposes but it's main focus is to provide structure and give those newly
perform any job function that I assign to one of my joined members a way to instantly identify those who they can rely on for
Supervisors/Managers. How do I counsel someone for not completing leadership. We here at SM|SMX don't wear rank insignia or badges to
a job task in a timely manner if I do not truly understand the details indicate who we are or what we do, it's our actions that speak for us. It's
required to complete the task at hand. how we care for each other and our associates at all levels. It's what we
do for each other that define what we mean to the next person and if in
the future they'll ever be willing to call on you again. If we reach that
success amongst each other then gaining that same level of trust with our Peter Lopez
Time Magazine, Cover September 1994 clients should come easily. Efforts and courage are not enough without (pictured 2nd from the right)
Matthew Rosenberg (profile pictured far right) purpose and direction (John F. Kennedy).
NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER DIVERSITY PROGRAM INCLUSION COUNCIL CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE
CREATING DIVERSITY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2011