VETERAN'S DAY

A VETERAN: 

Someone, whom at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the USA for an amount up to, and including their life. That is beyond honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember this fact. This is dedicated to all our brothers and sisters, moms, dads, husbands, wives and many more that serve our country. 

Veteran's Day began with a treaty. A treaty according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary is as follows: "an official agreement that is made between two or more countries or groups. "...At the eleventh hour, On the eleventh day, in the eleventh month of the year..." was how the Treaty of Versailles was agreed upon to end the "The Great War". In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared that November 11th was the holiday to be known as "Armistice Day" with the following words: "...To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing in which it has freed us and because the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations..."

To many people it is just another "holiday" to sleep in, get some housework done, grocery shop, or do something that has nothing to do with why this holiday was begun. 

While we have become a nation that has forgotten all about the many battles our veteran's have faced in their life. Some of the biggest battles they have waged are NOT on the battlefield but on the streets of this country where they were spat upon when they returned home; or with the red tape & bureaucracy that entangles them NOT to get the services they need to lead a productive life after military service. 

Do our children know of these things? My answer to that would be a huge, emphatic, "NO" because we want to raise a kinder, gentler American child. To those whom are reading this that think this way, please remember the following quote, "...Those who fail to remember the past are condemned to repeat it..." it seems that people forgot after 1918, that there was never supposed to be another "war" however war again raised its very ugly head in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. Then again in 1953, with the Korean War, then again in 1955 with the Viet Nam War; in 1991 in Desert Storm, and currently first in Iraq then into Afghanistan after the events of 9/11.

It seems to many in this country that we are the "World's Policeman". In many ways we are, we do what no other country on this earth will, fight oppression and freedom. Our men and women in uniform hold precious our freedoms that they are willing to fly to a distant land, live without the creature comforts of home (showers, hot meals, seeing their loved ones) all to preserve what many take for granted, "freedom". Why is it millions come here legally and illegally to the United States, I can only think of one word, "freedom". 

Every day when you see a veteran, whether he is in uniform or wearing a ball cap, walk up to him or her and say, "THANK YOU". If you are in a restaurant and see a group of veterans, pick up the tab or send dessert over, let them know they matter, and that their service was not in vain.

To the men and women of the ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINES, & COAST GUARD, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.