The Fall River Veterans Day Special Feature presented a one-on-one interview with Brigadier General Lisa Ahaesy, who served as the parade marshal. General Ahaesy discussed her 37-year military career, which began after graduating Dery High School in 1988. She recounted how working at Battleship Cove on the USS Massachusetts at age 16, interacting with World War II veterans, inspired her to join the military to find a greater purpose. She shared insights on balancing her military life with her roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother, emphasizing the importance of being present. General Ahaesy also offered advice to young people, particularly young women, considering military service, encouraging them to explore all opportunities, including the Space Force. She highlighted that her greatest accomplishment is seeing airmen grow and develop under her leadership, valuing mentorship over awards or rank. The interview concluded with Pam honoring General Ahaesy and all veterans for Veterans Day.
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Your resume is amazing and I have always looked up to you.
0:07Same to you, my friend. It's a wonderful to be here with you. It's been a few years, but um I love our history and wonderful to sit here with you today.
0:14Thank you for for having me.
0:16Thank you for talking to us and for being our parade marshals.
0:20Yes. Oh, absolutely. It's an honor.
0:22So, back in 1988, you finished Dery High School. You went right into the military, Lisa. Why?
0:27I did. Well, it it started my sophomore year here uh in history class. Mr. uh Dimmick, George Dimmick was my history teacher. Um so it was September 14th, 1986. Um it was my 16th birthday. So, uh I went to school that day and I thought, I'm 16. I need a job. What can I do? So, I mentioned it to Mr. Dimmick. I said, "Hey, Mr. Dimmick, I'm 16 today. Uh I'm
0:48going to get a job." So, he offered me on the spot. Um he worked at Battleship Coast of the USS Massachusetts here in the city. and he said, "Would you be interested in working the weekends in our byword booth, which was a self-guided tour of the USS Massachusetts?" A lot of the World War II veterans would come in, a lot of which served on the USS Massachusetts.
1:07Um, and they would give me the tour, right? So, I would talk to them and then I wouldn't. I'd listen and listen. And I knew um from them that I needed to be part of something bigger, right? We all walk around in life wondering what our purpose is. Do we have a purpose? What is that purpose?
1:23Imagine having and I don't even call it a job. It's a life. It's an honor. Um to be handed a purpose when you didn't have one. Right. So I'm 17 years old at that time and I knew, you know, as the youngest of seven children, college wasn't on the horizon. Um but I knew I wanted the military first. I knew I needed to be part of something bigger than myself. Um, and
1:50then when I signed up in my senior year, they handed me that purpose and it's what I've been carrying around for the last 37 years with with great honor and pride.
1:59I mean, you are a career military person.
2:03Like you said, you knew at age 16. Now you're a wife, you're a mom, you're a grandom.
2:08Grammy. Yes. Absolutely.
2:09Lisa, how do you juggle it?
2:10You know, and and people talk about work life balance. I don't I don't know. I don't know. I I haven't accomplished that yet. Right. Um, but I look at being present where you are. When I'm home with my wonderful husband of 30 plus years and my three daughters and my three grandchildren and my family, I'm present. I'm there.
2:31I'm not at work. I'm not, you know, thinking about what I'm doing tomorrow.
2:34I'm in that moment. When I'm at work and I'm surrounded by the greatest airmen in the world and the greatest soldiers and those that I serve with, I'm present with them. So, I truly believe it's about being present where you are.
2:46You've served, I think, in 13 different countries in Africa alone, Afghanistan.
2:53Yes.
2:53I mean, you've seen the world.
2:55Yes.
2:56What advice do you have for young people now that are considering joining the military, particularly our young women out there?
3:02You know, I I love that question, Pam, and I talk to everyone. Um, I love to talk to people and I would tell them, explore it.
3:10Nothing's off limits. I used to say sky's is the limit. Now, we have space force. Sky is no longer the limit. It's beyond, right? It is such an exciting time to serve. A lot of times people will say, you know, what is your your greatest honor? What is your greatest your your list of awards, Lisa, is endless.
3:30What one would you say is nearest dearest or your most proud of?
3:34I I would I would say none of them. Um, none of them and all of them because all of them are tied to an experience where I was able to serve with my fellow airmen who I consider my family, right?
3:47Great service members from all branches throughout the country and throughout the world. Um, so they're all tied to an experience and to be able to see young people grow and to be able, especially in the leadership role that I'm in now, to be able to see airmen grow and doing the wonderful things that they're doing.
4:05And knowing that I had a small part in helping shape that and help lead is that's my greatest accompliment. That's my greatest reward of of any awards.
4:15It's not about the rank. It's not about the decorations. It is truly about people.
4:19It's your mentorship.
4:20Yes.
4:21I mean being young journalists, we know the mentors that led us and how much they meant to us. And now I think I agree with you. It's just giving back, right? Absolutely. You're a giver.
4:30Absolutely. Yes. So are you.
4:31Thank you so much. On this Veterans Day, I honor you. I honor all of the people that served before you and thank you so much and best of luck to your daughters as well.
4:40Thank you, Pam. Appreciate you.
4:41Thank you.