Xavier-Marc Cugnon, Veteran Ally and Cultural Explorer
Xavier-Marc Cugnon takes his roles as father, husband, brother and veteran very seriously. The Marine Corps Veteran strives to be a model for how an honorable man should be in all aspects of life. When the Mandarin speaker isn’t strolling the vibrant streets of the BeltLine, you can find him doing his daily 100 push-ups in the gym, (or as he calls it, his church), where he works on his mind as much as his body. Inspired by his vibrant, stylish and single 80-year-old mother, this world traveler has embraced the idea that age is truly just a number.
What inspires you to get up every morning?
I live a better life than I deserve. My wife, daughter, job and community are incredible. Getting up each day means I get to live at my best. Who would want to miss that!? That wasn’t always the case. Getting up then was about doing whatever it took to get here.
How do you uplift the communities that shaped you?
I do a lot of work with the veteran community. As co-chair of the Georgia Pest Control Association’s PestVets and Commanding Officer of my company’s Veterans Resource Group, we have made an impressive impact on the veterans in need. In fact, we just shipped 1,500 pounds of comfort and hygiene items to a unit in Kuwait. Our coat drive has distributed 17,000 coats in the last 4 years. We have sold over $50,000 in apparel to raise money, sponsored families over the holidays, built access ramps for disabled vets, completed home improvement projects, treated homes for bed bugs, donated thousands of dollars and services at cost to local Veterans Service Organizations and so much more.
What drew you to play the native flute and didgeridoo?
So, my wife took a course at a local university to learn the Native American flute. She left her flute lying around, and I picked it up, intending to be terrible. For some reason, my fingers moved across it like the Pied Piper. It’s like I had been playing it all along. It’s such a soul-filled sound. When I discovered the knack for the flute, it gave me the courage to learn the didgeridoo.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
I’d love to split my time living abroad. Having been born in Belgium and raised in Asia, I miss it. You’ll most likely find me in the narrow streets of a remote city. My wife is convinced I’ll be on a small local theater stage somewhere. I suspect she may be right.
