The Athenian Oath, also known as the Ephebic Oath, was recited by the young men of Athens, Greece more than 2,000 years ago when they became citizens at the age of seventeen.  It is one of the great historic pledges to be dutiful in service, and states:

“We will never bring disgrace on this our City by an act of dishonesty or cowardice. We will fight for the ideals and Sacred Things of the City both alone and with many. We will revere and obey the City’s laws, and will do our best to incite a like reverence and respect in those above us who are prone to annul them or set them at naught. We will strive unceasingly to quicken the public’s sense of civic duty. Thus, in all these ways, we will transmit this City not only, not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”

Those who came before us passed our city and our nation on to us, either better or worse than they found it.  When your time comes, will you fulfill or neglect your duty to serve; and what will it mean for those who follow you?

Have a wonderful day.