It originally was known as “Armistice Day” because November 11 was the day in 1918 that Germany signed the armistice treaty ending World War I, the “War to End All Wars.” Unfortunately, World War II and the Korean War proved that wrong, and by 1954 Congress decided to change the name to Veterans Day.
No matter one’s personal political stripe, we all owe a debt of gratitude to our military veterans. And with the United States waging war continuously since March 2003 using Reservists as well as “regular” enlisted men/women, there are far more “veterans” among us than we might realize – in addition to those vets of WW II, Korea and Vietnam. Some are Purple Heart recipients for having been wounded. Some of them have been honored with bronze and silver stars for the special distinction with which they served.
Every one of them who has actually seen combat, however, also carries the scars of battle. Some are very visible, others not at all. But as author Jose Narosky quotably noted: “In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.”
Today politicians will give speeches, and those are necessary to ensure that we recognize and remember the service and the sacrifice inherent in military service. But speeches aren’t nearly enough, especially for those who have returned from service significantly diminished, depleted or impaired.
Although we often disagree with Sen. Dick Durbin on public policy matters, he is spot-on when he says: “We owe our disabled veterans more than speeches, parades and monuments.” That’s especially true for those veterans whose disability arises from actually having been placed in harm’s way in the defense of this country. We, as a nation, owe them the best care this country can reasonably provide to restore them, as much as possible, to the condition and functionality of which they were robbed on the battlefield.
And those of us who did not serve must do our best to ensure that they get it.
That’s our debt of honor.
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4 comments so far
An excellent point, well stated.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks. We try.
You are so right; the folks who love to posture and pontificate and question others’ patriotism but vote to cut health benefits and job search help for our veterans need to do the right thing, not just say the right thing. And thanks also for the acknowledgement that all who serve and see action are wounded in some way, as they always have been (See the WWII classic, The Best Years of Their Lives).
EDITOR’S NOTE: Great movie. But let’s just make sure we’re on the same page here: we made a point of distinguishing those who suffered some significant physical or mental disability from servic, especially from being put in harm’s way. That doesn’t go for all those drill jockeys and desk jockeys who stateside or far behind the lines who may be looking to leverage disability or other benefits out of athlete’s foot or hemorrhoids.
If you get a chance, read the article in Men’s Health (either October or November issue) about the IED’s and the lack of protection for our men in uniform. It really provides a wake up call.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We got our wake-up call a few years ago when a local parent whose son was in Iraq was spending around $75 to buy his son a protective helmet liner because that was not standard issue to our Marines.
and yet we have identified $60 BILLION in overcharges by the private vendors who supply their fellow citizens with equipment, etc.
Dear. God.
What’s wrong with government?
We have met the enemy and they is us.
EDITOR’S NOTE: And where was your wonderful “government” – you know, that government that’s supposed to look after our tax dollars – while that was happening? Giving hundreds of billions in bailouts to Wall Street? Tossing a spare half-billion at Solyndra? Giving Halliburton and its subsidiaries their no-bid monopoly on military contracts in Iraq? Tango, anyone?
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