HW.

Commemorative Speech Outline

Name:

Date: November 26, 2016

Topic reviewed: _____

Topic: Commemorative Speech

Purpose: MACROBUTTON FormFieldOptions To Commemorate

Specific purpose: To commemorate my BDU’s (Battle Dress Uniform)

Thesis: My uniform has had the biggest impact on my life as a person and my life after the military.

Introduction:

I. A lot of people look at this uniform and see just that, something that a soldier, or an airman wears. It doesn’t have many distinguishing marks besides a nametape, and stripe insignia. However, I see an amount of miles traveled that would circle the earth six times. I see the holidays spent away from home. I see the groups of strangers that became family.

II. My uniform carries it’s own authority, it’s own memories, and even though I no longer wear it, will grant me opportunities such as this one the rest of my life.

III. I spent six years and thousands of hours and miles in this uniform, and never regret a single minute of it.

IV. I want to share with you the reasons why this is more than just a uniform, it’s part of me and part of my life. It’s part of my character, and part of my memory. It too has it’s own personality that we formed together. It saw a boy turned into a man, and earned stripes just like he had.

Body:

I. This uniform gave a young kid purpose, direction, and life experience.

A. After I graduated high school, I was like many other kids. I was searching. I was as a spotlight, searching for the escapee that once I had found, I wouldn’t release. Joining the Air Force ended that search.

B. The uniform taught me financial responsibility, pride in having a strong self-image, and the responsibility it takes to wake up every day and do something because it’s the right thing to do. It also taught me the history of many before me that paid the ultimate price so the ones after them could carry on their legacy.

C. I have met more people and seen more places than most twenty nine year olds. If I hadn’t have had this uniform, I know for a fact that I would not have seen everything that I have.

My uniform has carried on with me like a candle that refuses to burn away, and it continues to burn well after I have left the military.

II. Many aspects of my life are affected today because of my uniform.

A. My wife and I live in a house that I bought after being approved for a VA loan. For veterans, the VA is the sleepless advocate.

B. I’m in this class today working toward a better future for myself and for my family because I spent time in a uniform. I receive a benefit called the Montgomery G.I. bill that pays for my school and my expenses.

C. Every year Americans, and their allies the world over, stop on November eleventh and pay tribute to the uniform and those who wear or have worn it. On that day I am humbled to know that so many people, if only for a small grain in the sand of time, remember what the uniform means.

Conclusion:

I. Once my uniform became part of my attire, I soon found out that it also becomes part of your life, and you become part of a culture that many before you have formed. The uniform ushers you into a club that has no membership card, or monthly dues. The club goes by only a single name, “veteran”.

II. Sir Robert Baden-Powell was quoted as saying “ The uniform makes for brotherhood, since when universally adopted it covers up all differences of class and country. ” Even though a uniform may get dirty or worn out, even though it’s colors may fade and need to be replaced, the uniform itself lives on. You see men and women don’t make uniforms, uniforms make men and women.

Thank you for your time today, and I appreciate your attention.

References:

Hint: To help remember how to properly list your references go to http://www.sinclair.edu/facilities/library/research/index.cfm

Thinkexist.com. (Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the boy scouts)

Audience analysis information:

In the space below discuss how you have tailored your speech for this particular audience and situation. Include specific demographic, environmental and audience expectation information you considered important to this speech.

My audience includes… People who may have family members who are in or who have been in the military, or another profession that wears a uniform.

My environment involves… being in a formal setting, possibly behind a podium and being required to give the most polished speech yet for our class.

Audience expectations for this speech include … my sharing what my uniform means in descriptive language, and sharing some of the values that has.

Choices I've made include…personal things I’ve learned, usage of simile and personification. Trying to describe a uniform as an idea or a value as opposed to just an object.