Ceremony honoring a military retiree

A ceremony honoring a military retiree is the capstone of a career for one who has dedicated years to the service of our country. Full of the military's finest pomp and circumstance, such ceremonies bring together family, friends and fellow servicemen to celebrate the leadership, dedication and sacrifice of the one leaving military service.

Military retirement ceremonies are a formal and dignified way to say farewell and good luck. Such ceremonies have some of the same elements of the Change of Command ceremonies in terms of the speeches people give.

On both occasions, the commanding officer who is leaving or the senior officer in charge of the ceremony expresses thanks to those who made sacrifices for the good of the unit.
On both occasions, the speakers praise the achievements of the units or retiring person.
On both occasions, the speakers mention memorable moments shared with the person who is departing.
And on both occasions, the speakers offer some inspirational message about the future.

Ruffles and Flourishes is part of most military ceremonies. The call to attention is usually followed by a march song to announce the arrival of the military officer presiding at the retirement ceremony. If the song is Hail to the Chief, that official is the US President.
About Ruffles and Flourishes

A general's perspective on military retirement speeches

One man quite familiar with military retirement ceremonies is Maj Gen John S. Grinalds (USMC Ret) who often spoke at ceremonies honoring Marines under his command during his 33 years of service.

Grinalds, who later served as president of The Citadel, cited some of the common features that make up speeches at a Marine Corps retirement ceremony.

Maj Gen John S. Grinalds, USMC (Ret) Photo by Russ Pace, The Citadel

Recognition of family - Officers know that the one who is retiring was not alone in the sacrifices that military service requires. Family members share the challenges of separations, relocations, base housing and the regimented lifestyle that is part of military service. So the retirement of a service member is also the retirement of a family that has adopted a lifestyle far different from their peers in civilian life. It's only fitting that the commanding officer recognize the spouse, children, parents or others who have supported that person in their service to the country.

An analogy to illustrate the vital role of a military spouse

At retirement ceremonies, Grinalds often paid tribute to the spouse and family by using the story of an eagle in flight. These majestic birds, with their broad wingspans and muscular bodies, soar through the sky evoking images of power and grandeur. But what most people don't know is that the feathers on the tips of the wings are essential for the eagle to be able to fly.

Without those feathers, the eagle is grounded.

A military spouse is like those feathers on the eagle's wing tips . . . a critical factor in the person's success. So at retirement ceremonies, Grinalds used the eagle story to express appreciation to the partner behind the distinguished career of the person being honored.

History in service -- The ranking officer at a retirement ceremony will review the service of the retiring member. Such comments include a listing of assignments, deployments, awards and commendations, and other points of distinction.

Examples of leadership -- Finally, the ranking officer will cite two or three examples of times the service person went above and beyond in supporting the unit in their mission.

Grinalds sometimes used the example of geese flying in formation to signify the cooperation necessary to complete a mission. When geese fly in a V formation, the one in front bears the brunt of the wind resistance but is motivated to keep going by what he calls the "honkers" who are further back and encourage the lead goose. When the leader tires to the point it cannot continue, the bird will shift back and another goose will take the lead position. That cooperation allows the entire flock to keep moving forward.

Image by Manfred A Zimmer, Pixabay. The flight pattern of geese is a fitting example to illustrate the cooperation, shared leadership and encouragement that is necessary for a successful unit.

Fair winds and following seas. Such speeches often end with well wishes for the retiree in future endeavors. Grinalds would remind the retiring service person that he would continue to be a member of the military family even after he took off his uniform. "The uniform may be retired but your example will continue to inspire us."

Military retirement speeches: inspirational quotes about duty and honor

If you are developing a speech for a military retirement ceremony, the following quotes suggest ways you could talk about the dedication, the strong bonds, and the sense of duty that are inherent in military service.

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone monuments but what is woven into the hearts of others." ―Pericles

"The uniform might be retired but the honor and respect it commands will forever remain." ― Anonymous

"The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country” ― George S. Patton, Jr.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ― John F. Kennedy

“Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else.” ―Fred Rogers

"You are not simply retiring from service. You are retiring to new ways to serve your community and others."
―Anonymous

“All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.”
― Winston Churchill

“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”
― Helen Keller

“You only get one life. It is your duty to live it as fully as possible.”
― Jojo Moyes

Speeches on military retirement to inspire you

The pull of service to one's country

This piece titled The Mistress of Special Forces comes from James R. Ward, Office of Strategic Services, Ward (1917-2000) served with the OSS detachment during World War II where he received a bronze star for his actions in Burma.

Men, Special Forces is a mistress.

Your wives will envy her because she will have your hearts. Your wives will be jealous of her because of the power to pull you away. This mistress will show you things never before seen and experience things never before felt.

She will love you, but only a little, seducing you to want more, give more, die for her. She will take you away from the ones you love, and you will hate her for it, but leave her you never will, but if you must, you will miss her, for she has a part of you that will never be returned intact.

And in the end, she will leave you for a younger man.

A different way to say thanks in a retirement speech

This Change of Command speech by Captain Kevin Gibbons took an inspirational approach in thanking those who had helped him. Gibbons, the incoming commander of the Sabalauski Air Assault School, used his time to encourage others to become mentors during the March 2019 ceremony.

Excerpts are below. You can find the full text at DOD Reads.

I so appreciate those people who prayed for me.
I’d like to thank those precious few people who sat down with me and gave me honest, hard and critical feedback. Those hard discussions have been game changers in my professional development.
I’d like to thanks those people who invested in me, took a personal interest in my professional development, challenged me and helped me grow to be a better man. They did that not based on anything I did, or what they saw in me but based on their character and their commitment to invest in individuals

Mentors/Coaches/Ricks/AGC/XO – Keep it up, keep me accountable, honest, and push me to excellence.
And when I’m gone, go find someone else. Go find the next the next MIDN, ENS, LT Laney, and go pour yourself into and develop that person.
What you did worked for me and I would be very grateful if you continue that work and pass it on.