Veterans Day Remembrances

All Americans should pause for a moment on this Veterans Day to think of the sacrifices their fellow countrymen have given for them. Unfortunately, many of us never really think about our veterans. This lackadaisical attitude has become even more prevalent with an all volunteer military force. Many people claim to "support the troops" while our forces are on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq however, bumper stickers are a relatively small sacrifice to pay. How many of us have thanked a serviceman or servicewoman lately? Are we too concerned with worrying about ourselves? Do we ever consider the values that members of the military hold dear? Have you ever tried to define service to country or patriotism? Is there an appreciable difference between a veteran and a non-veteran? Do our children understand the differences between the trivialities of life and the life of our nation? I can only hope that some of us think about these things.

Veterans are basically no different than the rest of us. They want to succeed, be happy, and live a comfortable life. That said, all of them have answered a higher calling. It does not matter whether they served as a conscript in earlier times or, as a volunteer now or then. Veterans have all experienced life beyond themselves. The military is a microcosm of America and its members come from all walks of life. The defense of our country bonds them together in search of a common goal. All of them possess a deep love of country and often have a difficult time understanding their fellow citizens who confuse opposing governmental policies with condemnation of their own nation.

Every veteran is different however, the majority of them hold some values in common. There are four values that veterans hold dear. They are integrity, humility, courage, and knowledge. Personal integrity is of paramount importance for them. It is simple to define: Veterans say what they'll do and do what they say. Humility is also important. Veterans subjugate personal wants, desires, and accolades and pull their weight as a member of a team. Veterans value courage. This is not limited to courage under fire. Veterans have the courage to do the right thing regardless of personal sacrifice and the ability to hold their compatriots to set standards of behavior. Veterans understand the importance of knowledge. They realize that the pursuit of knowledge is a never ending task. The only way to avoid a paradigm is to constantly strive for the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.

All veterans served their country for personal reasons and the rest of us who either couldn't or simply didn't feel the desire to serve our nation owe all of them an immeasurable debt of gratitude. They represent all that is good about America and their legacy extends from wintry Valley Forge to the heat of Baghdad. We all would be well served if even a few of us could escape our narcissism for only a moment and remember the sacrifices of our veterans.

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