Yesterday I turned 53.

It’s hard to believe that 20 years have passed since I ran for Congress. I remember those days vividly, knocking on doors trying to convince the people of Bucks County that a young guy who had just come home from war deserved a chance to represent them in Washington.

Birthdays have a funny way of putting things in perspective.

At 23, I was beginning my military career.

At 33, I was running for Congress.

At 43, I was preparing for another chapter of leadership in the U.S. Army.

And now, at 53, I’m thinking more about my own kids growing up and the next generation of Americans who will carry this country forward.

In 2006, I was an unlikely underdog who believed public service was one of the best ways to make this country better. I still do.

That’s why, with the midterm elections just two weeks away, I’m back on the campaign trail, knocking on doors and supporting Democratic candidates I believe in. Only this time, I have my son Jack by my side.

Why I Still Believe Good People Should Run

One way I got involved early this election season was by hosting a meet-and-greet in Philadelphia for Rebecca Bennett, a fellow veteran running for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th District against incumbent Republican Tom Kean Jr. Out Taking the Hill federal PAC endorsed her, and we’ve written her a check.

Rebecca spent more than a decade as a Navy helicopter pilot, earned her MBA from Wharton, and went on to become a leader in healthcare. She’s also a mother of two.

Having run for Congress myself, I know how much you’re asking of yourself and your family when you put your name on the ballot. It’s not an easy decision, especially these days.

I’ve long believed that the next chapter of veterans’ service isn’t just about what America can do for them, but what they can continue doing for America. Running for public office is one way to do that, and it’s encouraging to see veterans taking that step.

With two weeks until Election Day, everyone will be focused on who will win and who will lose. But the day after matters too. Because the need for service doesn’t disappear when the ballots are counted.

Another highlight of the week was hitting the campaign trail for Bryan Allen, who’s running for the PA State House in Bucks County, with my son Jack. Bryan is a graduate of Conwell Egan Catholic, where Jack is a Junior. Our Kennedy Democrats state PAC wrote him a $96K check.

I’ve knocked on thousands of doors over the years, but doing it alongside my son was something special. Politics has changed quite a bit since I ran in 2006, but there’s still nothing quite like meeting voters face-to-face.

Now instead of asking people to believe in me, I’m thinking about the values I want to instill in my own children and what I want them to believe about our country.

I want Jack to understand that democracy isn’t a spectator sport. It requires participation and a willingness to listen to people who see the world differently. Public service is a duty we all share, even if that simply means showing up to vote on Election Day.

Earlier this week, I spoke at the national PWW conference with leaders from across the country in the emergency medical services community. It was a good reminder that public service comes in many forms. Our EMS professionals who report for duty at 3 a.m. are our local heroes, and as I said to them, nobody calls 9-1-1 because they’re having a good day. There are over one million of them: 623K EMS professionals (who conducted over 150 education hours) and 268K paramedics (who conducted over 1500 education hours). Last year, according to NEMSIS, they answered over 63 million activations.

With two weeks until Election Day, everyone will be focused on who will win and who will lose. But the day after matters too.

Because the need for service doesn’t disappear when the ballots are counted. The emergencies keep coming. The challenges facing our communities remain. And the next generation is watching how we respond.

I’ve been fortunate to serve this country in a lot of different ways, from West Point to Baghdad, from Congress to the Pentagon. And twenty years after my first campaign, I still believe public service is one of the best things we can do with our lives.

I can’t tell you what my son Jack will decide to do when he grows up. But I hope he’ll remember knocking on those doors with me and understand why it was so important.

The next generation won’t learn the meaning of service simply by hearing us talk about it. They’ll learn it by watching our actions – especially when we show up to help others.

The Honorable Patrick J. Murphy is a Wharton lecturer, vetrepreneur, and the 32nd Army Under Secretary after earning the Bronze Star for service in Baghdad, Iraq as an All-American with the 82nd Airborne Division — @PatrickMurphyPA on Instagram and Twitter. Murphy is a supporter of the Citizen Media Group.

This article originally appeared on his Substack. 

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