Courage, respect and thank you are simple words that sum up what Veterans Day means to me. Each of these words when taken individually represents what every American should think of on Veterans Day.
Reflect for a moment about young men and women packing their duffel bags waiting to be sent to a foreign land far from home. What thoughts must run through their minds in time of war? Certainly one must contemplate will I kill another human being or will I be killed? Will I maim or be maimed? Will I become a POW; if so what horrors must be endured? Will I ever embrace my loved ones again?
Peace keeping missions also pose danger to our military forces. In this scenario we ask our soldiers to use diplomacy keeping opposing forces from killing each other, while leaders of nations hammer out agreements such as border disputes, the language to be placed on treaty agreements and the like.
Even in times of world peace our armed forces must be ever mindful that they can be called into action at any given moment. Surely this knowledge must give them pause to think about military service.
Thousands of men and women served our country in time of need regardless of popular opinion here at home. Call it what you will; police action, military conflict, or war, the fact remains that Americans, generation after generation gave life and limb in order for us to maintain our freedoms. These men and women who served our country so nobly certainly have made this nation the greatest on Earth.
Veterans Day is also a time to remember family members who sacrificed life and limb. In my family, my great uncle paid the ultimate price as a POW on Luzon Island in the Philippines during World War II. Another family member, my grandfather, suffered a leg injury when his ship was bombed, in addition he contracted malaria while serving in Africa also during World War II. Without the actions of brave men and women America would still be struggling to make her mark as a world superpower.
Veterans Day is not a time to remember just the brave men and women who fought in America's most recent 'disputes'. It is a time to remember the blood shed in early American History and how much courage it look for those men and women to stand up and fight for their beliefs. Without the actions of those men and women, America would not be the country she is today. We, as a nation, owe to all these men and women eternal gratitude.
As the flag is raised on this Veterans Day, the last of the millennium, we should not be afraid to stand tall, place our hands over our hearts, and recite in a loud, clear voice, the Pledge of Allegiance. This day holds a special importance in my heart. I am proud to say that I am an American. Finally, when you see a veteran standing or sitting outside a store collecting money we should always donate to their worthy cause and say thank you, for without these people we would not have the freedoms and liberties each of as enjoy today.