“Wes had taken an oath of service.”

“Service is the thing that makes your heart beat faster.”

At today’s inauguration, the first statement was made by Lt. Colonel Jaime Martinez, who served in Afghanistan with Captain Wes Moore.

The second was made by Oprah Winfrey.

“My years of service transformed me,” Governor Wes Moore declared in his address.  “The work will be done together.  Today is not the victory.  Today is the opportunity.”

On Friday morning, I will be meeting with the governor’s staff member responsible for his legislation making a year of service available to students in the year after they graduate from high school.