Weekly Column: Cornwall-on-Hudson

About fifty miles north of New York City sits the town of Cornwall-on-Hudson. Just over 3000 people live there. But this small city has been in the news quite a bit since January 2007.

Why? That's when a native son was promoted and took command of American military forces in Iraq. His name is General David Petraeus.

Petraeus was born in Cornwall-on-Hudson on November 7, 1952. His father, Sixtus, was a sailor who immigrated to America from the Netherlands during World War II. His mother, Miriam, was an American who doted on her son. At a young age, Petraeus became fascinated with the military. Several military veterans in the town influenced him, including a couple of his teachers at school and people at his church. After graduating in 1970 from Cornwall Central High School, he enrolled in the United States Military Academy.

Friends who knew Petraeus growing up remember him as a friendly but earnest boy. He was a young man in a hurry. But he was also immensely talented. He received excellent grades in high school and was a National Merit Scholar. In many ways, he seemed to personify the town that produced him: he was hard-working, patriotic and friendly. He loved playing soccer and was known as "Mr. Hustle."

Though he left Cornwall, Cornwall never left him. The city today still has a small town feel to it. With it's close proximity to New York City, many of the residents commute to offices in the Big Apple. The town remains a largely residential area, although there is a small commercial center. It remains proud of the famous son it produced. And he remains committed to the values he learned there.

During a recent commencement speech at Georgia Gwinnett, Petraeus spoke of the need for individuals to serve a cause greater than themselves. And he pointed out that this service doesn't only take place when people where a military uniform:

"But service comes in many forms. Whether in the commercial sector or in local political arenas, on the health care front or in the educational arena, there is much work worth doing.

"In fact, I would submit that now, more than ever, our nation needs leaders and 'world changers' in its civilian ranks. The many pressing challenges we face—from reviving the economy to overcoming poverty, from achieving renewable energy to improving American education—demand young leaders who will provide energy, commitment, and example.

"Georgia Gwinnett prides itself on investing in the 'whole person.' Each of you has benefited greatly from your teachers’ willingness to hold weekend study sessions, to give you a call when you missed a class, and to talk about life with you over lunch in the Atrium. I would urge you to provide a return on that investment. Take the knowledge and experiences you’ve acquired here at GGC back to your communities with an eye toward serving the greater good. Invest in those around you, wherever you work and whatever your career. In so doing, you will help this be the hallmark of GGC graduates: that they invest in work worth doing."

Serving others...investing in work worth doing...taking care of the 'whole person'.... These are some of the life lessons General Patraeus teaches today; and they are life lessons first learned in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York.