Like many people, I take time out to observe Veterans Day. As a Veteran, I use the day to think about old friends and the bond we had while serving our country. Some of the best friendships I have were formed while serving in the military. Of all the jobs I’ve held, serving in the military is at the top.
I also take time out to pray for the military personnel who are serving today – and their families. I hope you will say a prayer for them, too.
Some years I watch ceremonies on television and in other years I attend local events. I planned on attending a Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday, but I can’t quite grasp the fact that someone who never served is one of the speakers. So I will stay at home – which is my little way of protesting.
I’m not saying that people who did not serve in the military are not patriotic. There are many who are and there are many ways to be patriotic. It’s also quite easy to be patriotic on a day like November 11. It’s easy to tell stories about Grandpa or your Uncle serving in World War II, or about your father’s service in Vietnam…to try to fit in.
On November 11 it’s easy to look a Veteran in the eye, slap them on the back, and say thank you for serving. What about November 12, November 13…
The basic fact is when we had a choice to serve our country in the military or not, we did.
So the central message in this column is that I like to see Veterans Day ceremonies with actual Veterans giving the speeches. Veterans are much more interesting than hearing a politician who never served using the event to campaign or to pat themselves on the back for a couple of votes they have taken for Veterans.
My glass is always half-full so I won’t let the little things ruin my day. My flag will still be flying proudly and I hope your flag will be displayed, too.
God bless our Veterans!
The Western Word 
Jack-
I know where you coming from, but Obama gave a speech at Veteran’s day and he’s never served. But in the end that’s not the point. The holiday is to show respect for those who’ve served, so it’s moot on who the speaker is, branch of service, enlisted vs officer, etc. If it’s a foreign national then you’ve got a point. But a civilian who’s never taken the oath to stand up, develop a speech, and pay respect to those who have is nothing to frown upon.
I don’t feel special because I spent 4 years of my life serving in the Marines and certainly don’t expect people to fully appreciate my sacrifice and send me praises one day a month. I could care less. I was promoted, served in the Gulf, and came home safe. Mission accomplished.
The bottom line is that people are dying in a futile war overseas. I’m patriotic, but there comes a point. Vietnam took 58,000 Americans and sent them to an early grave. Pat Tillman’s death was spinned into a hero’s story, and not a single WMD was ever found…and both turned to lies, just like the Gulf of Tonkin and numerous other tall tales. Stay away from confirmation biases and read the other side.
My family has been here for 9 generations and fought in the Revolution. The way I see it, with my expensive education via the GI Bill, Veterans day is just an extension of gov’t propaganda to keep our all-volunteer service filled with new ranks and warm bodies and to make everyone feel good about our military actions overseas. It’s Smedley Butler’s “War is a Racket”….
Paul – thanks for stopping by and for your opinion. -Jack
I understand where you’re coming from, Jack, but I respectfully disagree.
First of all, there are millions of people who literally CAN’T serve, due to physical standards. No fault of theirs that they have asthma, or a gimpy leg, or hemorrhoids, etc. For instance – Frank Sinatra couldn’t serve because he had bum ears, IIRC.
Second, I don’t necessarily mind if a non-vet gives a speech on Veterans Day. Non-vets can be just as proud and thankful for the service of veterans as many veterans often are.
Third, there are some veterans who, either during or after their service, became warped or otherwise ungrateful or idiotic. For instance, I believe “redneck hippie” (you know about him, right) is a veteran, but there is no way I would want him to headline a Veterans Day event.
Food for thought.
As always, thank you for your opinion. As for your first point, health reasons may be the case for some who do not serve; I have no problem if that is the case – old Frank at least tried, I believe. On the second point, I’m not saying non-veterans are not thankful or patriotic, but there are over 100,000 veterans in Montana so there could easily be someone to speak who’s been there done that and would at least have come connection to the audience – and not be campaigning…As for the third point, yes there are some who became warped (I know RNH) but there are still many out there who could speak from the heart about what it’s like to be a veteran, tell some great stories and make the day much better.
In closing, it’s Veterans Day…not non-veterans day… Thanks for visiting TWW. -Jack