Veteran Ken Rethmeier, DrPH and CAPT, MSC, USN (Ret.) delivers a 2025 Veterans Day address at Bailey’s Glen in Cornelius, NC, reflecting on a 22-year Navy career and 35 years since retirement. He recounts his Vietnam preventive medicine work, malaria control, food-borne illness outbreaks, POW stories, and the long-term devastating toll of Agent Orange—while honoring fellow veterans and the 120-person audience of mostly veterans and spouses.

The talk covers service-wide themes and core values across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force; highlights such as the Mercy and Comfort hospital ships; and Ken’s leadership framework model "Explore–Expand–Excel". He also shares personal anecdotes about his monthly veterans patients visits at the Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, and the importance of unity, honor, and commitment.

Key takeaways: veteran healthcare challenges, the legacy of World War II and Vietnam, leadership lessons for civilian and military life, and a call to recognize and support those who served.