This Monday is Veteran’s Day and in Canada this day is referred to as Remembrance Day; and remembrance of this day and what it represents to our nation is the reason we pay special homage to that class of American called “Veteran.”
Today we gather to honor a most important part of our society—our military veterans. They are our countrymen and women who answered their nation’s call to military duty in times of need and peril. It is these people who leave a tranquil type of life to enter a period of military service pledging to preserve and protect our nation and the freedoms we enjoy.
They take an oath pledging that they solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic and bear truth, faith and allegiance to the same. They pledge to obey the orders of the President of the United States and all officers appointed over them in accordance with the uniform code of military justice and they proudly step forward and make that pledge.
The pledge that begins their military life; their service to country that eventually leads to their life time designation as an American Veteran.
Millions of Americans have raised their right hand and taken that pledge and have distinguished themselves by courageously upholding that oath. It is to them that we stand here in their honor today.
In our wars beginning with World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, 31,337,741 Americans have served in our country’s military in that time span. Of that number, 502,724 have made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of Freedom giving us their tomorrows so that we may have our todays.
Since the days of Valley Forge, the beaches at Normandy, the sands of Iwo Jima, Hamburger Hill and the frozen Chosin, the Tet Offensive, the Cold War, Desert Storm, Dominican Republic, Panama, Granada, Somalia, Bosnia and today the mountains of Afghanistan and the streets of Iraq.
American servicemen and women have served valiantly and heroically in the cause of the preservation of freedom.
Just who is this person we address as a veteran? In World War I, he was the doughboy, in World War II and Korea, the G.I., in Nam, the grunt and among other titles he has been referred to as dogface, swabbie, gyrene, Fly Boy, Airdale, Seabee and Leatherneck.
Despite all those titles, what he actually was is the American citizen.
Soldier, sailor, marine, airman, guardsman called—from a peaceful civilian life to military service to defend not only their Country’s freedom but the world’s freedom as well.
They are those Americans who take to the sky in planes, those who go down to the sea in ships, in harms way, those seeking refuge in foxholes—they represent America’s best; the country’s finest asset; our young people.
Like generations before them and throughout our history they recognize their duty, their obligation and they serve.
In Sweden, there is an international world peace prize called the Nobel Peace award given for outstanding contributions to peace. The award is usually bestowed on an individual recognizing some personal diplomatic deed.
The primary qualification criterion for the award is to make an outstanding contribution toward peace. However, continually overlooked in the selection process is the American veteran who most certainly meets that requirement.
Through the actions of the American Veteran, the world has experienced the restoration and preservation of peace worldwide on not one but two occasions in one century.
No other nation’s people in history have made such an unselfish contribution.
The world owes that type Nobel Peace award recognition to the military men of that greatest generation and their fathers before them who achieved the goal of peace in civilization’s darkest hours.
I ask you, who better to be a most worthy recipient of this world wide peace award than the American Veteran?
Sadly in our country’s history there have been instances when the Veteran has not been widely acclaimed, or respected, or even remembered.
Beginning with the conflict in Korea—initially called a police action then a war—starting just four years after the end of World War II and in a period when the world was at peace. The country’s mood toward Veterans appeared uncaring, a citizenry with no feelings regarding those who served; a mood that caused the Korean War to be termed the “Forgotten War” by the participants.
The mood carried on after that conflict and was best described by the engraving on a memorial stone and plaque dedicated by Korean Veterans at the Saratoga National Cemetery. The plaque states:
“In time of danger and not before, God and the soldier all men adore; danger past and all is righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.”
In recent memory, the Veteran has been ridiculed, abused and in some instances, spat upon after returning from the battlefields of Vietnam by various uncaring segments of our society.
Those were traumatic days with our country torn apart in a most controversial war.
Today we have witnessed a rebirth of Patriotism and concern for Veterans—Veteran memorial monuments are erected, best selling books written, national cemeteries dedicated, flags displays are plentiful and flying.
The military servicemen, the Veteran is once again held in high esteem. And that is as it should be. We are a proud nation dedicated to the principles of freedom—a nation of people willing to defend their precious heritage of freedom.
In the history of our country, in the personal resume of an individual, in the pursuit of everyday life, there is no greater title, no greater honor and no greater identity than to make the statement “I am a Veteran.”
God bless our Veterans; God bless and watch over our service women and men and God bless this nation that we love—America.
