Man of Honor gives inspiring speech to fifth-grade graduates

The Virginian Pilot ^ | June 8, 2002 | KRISTEN KING,

[republicangel]

NORFOLK -- Usually, elementary school graduation speakers line up somewhere between sixth-grade teacher and retired assistant principal. But on Friday, Tanners Creek lured the Navy's first black Master Diver, made famous when his life was featured on the big screen in 2000.

Thanks to Devisa Averett -- the mother of an 11-year-old ``graduate'' and a daily classroom volunteer -- the school's guest of honor was the inspiration for Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character in the movie ``Men of Honor.''

``She didn't even go through my agent,'' Carl Brashear joked before going on stage in the cafeteria. ``And when she pulled up in front of my house with a long, stretch limousine, I knew I couldn't resist.''

The limo was the fanciest part of the morning, and it came courtesy of Averett, whose mother and Brashear are friends.

When Brashear stepped up to the graduation podium, he had to push aside the stool that students had been standing on to introduce him. Parents rose from their folding aluminum chairs to give him the first of three standing ovations. The microphone wailed.

But Brashear just kept on.

``Life is a long journey, and most of us would not set out on a journey without some idea of where we want to go,'' he said.

Fifth grade isn't too early to set goals and start mustering up the perseverance, dedication and ``can-do spirit'' needed to reach them, he said.

Brashear, son of a Kentucky sharecropper, now lives in Virginia Beach and was stationed in Norfolk for part of his career. ``Men of Honor'' chronicles his determination, showing the racism he encountered and the accident at sea that led to the amputation of part of his leg. ``I didn't let anyone or anything, including the loss of my left leg, preclude me from soaring to new heights,'' said Brashear, also the first amputee to serve as a Navy deep-sea diver.

The movie didn't seem as popular among Tanners Creek students as their parents.

But several said they planned to rent it -- perhaps even Friday night -- so Brashear's message could really sink in.

``If he goes back and sees the movie,'' Wanda Wilmore said, referring to her 10-year-old son, ``he'll see you can get into the momentum of greatness and never stop.''

[concerned about politics]

``he'll see you can get into the momentum of greatness and never stop.''

I'll bet the liberal school teachers were furious. Without victimhood, they have no power.
Great for the kids and their parents, though!

[First_Salute]

Thanks for the post.

Good man.

[SBeck]

Correction: a great man. An inspiration to everyone.

[WIMom]

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Let's have some fun!

[Paul Atreides]

Teacher to the white kids: "Now children, settle down. I know that you enjoyed today's speaker but it is important that you remember that you are still evil incarnate. Especially, you little boys."

[Diver Dave]

Just a small point to set the record straight on your Keyword. A Master Diver is not a Navy SEAL. There is a major difference between the two, both in training and type of work both do.

Great read though. Been through the training and work as a 2nd class diver - not a SEAL.

[Robe]

But several said they planned to rent it -- perhaps even Friday night -- so Brashear's message could really sink in.

I hope they scrub the four and 12 letter words outta that movie before showing ir to those kids,
Ya know how DeNero is