Onslow County becomes a patchwork of farms a few miles northwest of Jacksonville. It was a beautiful drive to Richlands, to visit the 4 schools in this small town. Three days after an article was written about One Million Acts Of Kindness in the Jacksonville Daily News, several people at the schools mentioned seeing it in the newspaper. The Kindness Bus is becoming a familiar sight in this county. The interest from that article created quite a positive stir all throughout the region.
One of my mid-day stops was at Saint Anne’s Day School on the westside of Jacksonville. Director Pam Banta was outside with a class on a project, everyone did a double-take as The Kindness Bus made its way past them. Pam had most every class come outside to get a mini tour of our “good surprise” visit to her school. One of her teachers even commented that she had seen us in New York City this summer.
We visited a total of 8 schools in various locations throughout the county today. The popularity of The Kindness Bus Tour has clearly increased as the week progressed, mainly I believe, due to the kind people who understand our mission and help spread the word.

As I brought another day to a close, two young workers from a local restaurant stopped by to talk. Ethan, a young man who I had met a few days earlier, brought a very interested young woman named Ashley with him. It was a pleasant way to bring an end to the day. We talked about many wonderful things they could do with their lives. Somehow, I know they will.

What better way to honor a Veteran than to talk to a veteran. I talked to Veterans and currently active Marines from their 20s to their 80s today. Being in Jacksonville, North Carolina, home of Camp Lejeune, there is a very high percentage of retired and active Marines somewhere near. One proud 20 year Marine Corps Veteran told me of his family, the Harris family. His immediate family has over 100 years of service to our country. I was honored to meet his wife, daughter and grand-daughter. His pride showed as he talked of family and country. He protected the American dream for all of us and is now living the American dream. He runs the A-1 laundry and dry cleaning business I visited today. A generous, caring, proud man with a kind side to him. I am honored to have met such a man. Semper Fi
Thank you to all Veterans for protecting our freedoms. The Kindness Bus, with all of it’s profound messages, that I drive around this country, is made possible by your protection of my Freedom of Speech. Welcome home and thank you to all of you.

Swansboro Middle School is in eastern Onslow County, in Swansboro NC. Nearly 800 students attend this school and it is fortunate to have such a dedicated staff. From the minute I walked through the door, I felt as though I was as welcome as one of the staff. Receptionist, Betty Moore said that she had read the article in the paper about One Million Acts Of Kindness. Lori Odum, the Volunteer Coordinator at the school, was so thrilled she actually cheered out loud. The word of The Kindness Certificates is starting to spread among parents, students and educators.
I arrived at Swansboro Elementary School just before lunch hour. The enthusiastic reception was commonplace from campus to campus today. The faculty at some of the schools had already heard about our visit to other schools and were hoping we would make it to theirs.   Upon leaving, or trying to do so; The Kindness Bus has been having some starting issues, it was as if our delayed departure was planned. While I was waiting for the starter to engage, classrooms of students and teachers walked by The Kindness Bus and it was used as a teaching lesson. Wonders never cease.

Huge successes today for The Kindness Bus Tour, fueled by an article in The Jacksonville Daily News written by Jannette Pippin. Thanks also to John Althouse for the great picture he took of The Kindness Bus in the parade.

At least one person, usually many, at each school mentioned the article in today’s paper about One Million Acts Of Kindness. Of the 10 schools I visited today, from the sounds of it, all of them are going to get involved with One Million Acts Of Kindness Week, and three have booked me for a visit to talk to their students in the spring.

Counselors Carol and Jennifer and social worker Rhonda from different schools were very excited to learn of the great teaching tool that The Kindness Certificate can become in a child’s life…and an adult’s life. I received an email from Judy who lives near Detroit, she took The Kindness Challenge last year and now people tell her that she is the kindest person they know. Judy passes out the Kindness Certificate to people in her life and is making a change in her area. She is the new Director of Summer Camp and is ready to spread kindness to the children. Judy, you are one of my heroes, thank you.

The two proud, young individuals in the photo, work for a worldwide restaurant chain and asked if they could have a couple stickers to wear on their uniforms. It was a great experiment as I sat in sight of all the visiting patrons and watched for an hour as many enjoyed the new look of their uniforms.  Is that the phone from Oak Brook, Illinois ringing?

Fighting the good fight. When did teaching become a battle? How did we get so far down this road? How did we take about 10 giant steps backwards?  “When times were simpler and there was a sense of community among neighbors,” so eloquently put by 70 year old librarian Liz Crawford in South Carolina late last fall. Liz had been a teacher and librarian for nearly 45 years and certainly is someone I would consider an expert on witnessing change in our education system.
Suzanne Zdepski is a counselor in the Onslow County School System, specifically White Oak High School. She too talked to me of those “simpler times” she witnessed just a generation ago. The passionate manner in which she talked about all she believed, made me realize every school should have a confidant like Suzanne who would be sure to gain the students’ trust.

There have been several people per day who have engaged me in conversation in Jacksonville while I have been out and about. The friendliness of this town and helpful nature of its people makes me grateful that I will be here for nearly another week, making this the longest visit The Kindness Bus Tour has spent in any town to date.

Colonel Paul O’Toole, USMC (Ret) and President of the Camp Lejeune Retiree Council is a proud man. I had the honor of meeting this larger than life marine at a talk with a panel of Veterans from various armed services and various wars and conflicts. The Colonel was the moderator and the panel represented forces from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf wars. These proud men and woman recounted their experiences regarding everything from how technology has changed, how personnel communicate stateside, friendships formed while in the service, battle and rescue, and most importantly, how they sacrificed to protect the rights of every American. The times may change but the pride throughout the generations remains constant. Welcome home and Thank you, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen.

Veterans Day is Thursday, November 11th. Please take the time to let this day be the beginning of a renewed respect for Veterans by thanking them at every opportunity and by visiting a VA Hospital.

A Veteran’s Day Parade like none I have ever witnessed took place just outside of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The size of parade and attendance was second to none I have ever seen. I called Debbie Hangsleben of Chapter 5 of Rolling Thunder in Jacksonville, North Carolina when I saw a notice of a parade taking place the evening prior. Their group was the parade sponsor. Debbie loved the idea of The Kindness Bus being part of the parade.
Pulling into the parade staging area this morning, one of the security guards said “That bus doesn’t look too patriotic.” I assured him that it was a freedom of speech bus, one of the rights these Marines defend in our honor. He immediately waved me in. All along the parade route were thousands of proud Veterans who enjoyed seeing something so beautiful as The Kindness Bus. All of them were greeted with a “Thank you for your service to our country.”
I am convinced that all attendees and participants were military or family. By the end of the parade I was made to feel as if I was part of the Marine family. My thanks to all Veterans everywhere.