Veterans Day: a federal holiday in November where Americans celebrate the brave men and women of our armed forces. It is a time to remember peace and take a moment to thank living veterans and active duty military for their service and preservation of our country.
One such veteran is Scott Dunn, a Residential Mortgage Loan Originator working right here at Morgan Financial. Upon hearing about his impressive and honorable military career, it’s easy to see why he and others like him are more than deserving of our gratitude.
In February of 1988, Scott left the quiet town of Plant City, Florida to join the Air Force at the young age of 20. When asked why he chose to join the military, his answer was carried by the patriotism and certainty that one might expect from a career veteran: a passionate calling to serve his country.
In the Air Force, Scott found several ways to put his talents to good use. He started in aircraft structural maintenance where he primarily worked on AWACS aircraft, which are essentially aircraft equipped with a surveillance, target detection, and tracking platform. With that, he also served in Desert Storm and was stationed in countries throughout the Middle East such as Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey.
Later, he served at Thule Air Base in Greenland where he was cross-trained in space operations. With Greenland being so near the North Pole, his primary task was to watch for missiles that could potentially be launched by the Soviet Union.
Thule Air Base, the U.S. Armed Forces’ northernmost location, located 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle
Though a barren tundra where temperatures dropped to around -60 degrees, Scott remembers his time stationed there fondly. “Since we were in such a remote place away from our families, we all developed a very deep comradery with each other,” he said as he remembered his close friends on Thule. In addition to the men and women serving in the Air Force, he was surrounded by Canadian military as well as Greenlandic and Danish civilians working on base. “The tundra was harsh and cold, but my exposure to all these new things was greatly rewarding,” Scott said.
After 21 years of service, Scott retired in 2009. He admits that the transition from military to civilian life was difficult, which is a sentiment often shared throughout the armed forces. “It was all I had ever known,” Scott said.
However, Scott feels fortunate to have found an opportunity to work with David Morgan and Morgan Financial. Since David is a veteran himself, his business thrives through his passion of helping the veteran client. Scott recalled how refreshing and familiar it felt when he started working for David many years ago, comparing the company culture and comradery to the best aspects of the military. This kind of environment has allowed him to effectively serve veterans in a new way right here in Brevard County.
“Working with veterans and active duty military gives me a chance to continue to serve even though I’ve retired from the military,” Scott said. “It’s great handing the keys over to a veteran at closing and helping them start a new life.”
A wall of achievements in Scott’s office
For all military and their families, Veteran’s Day is seen as an important holiday to honor the sacrifices that have been made today and throughout history. Scott reminds all of us that while patriotism and celebration of our veterans skyrocket in times of war and tragedy, we should continue to be grateful for their sacrifices at all times, including times of peace.
Thank you for your service, Scott, both here and abroad. We would also like to thank all veterans and active military in Brevard, the state of Florida, across America, and all of those stationed overseas. Setting aside one day to honor your service is the least that we can do.
