This is Veterans weekend; it is my privilege to thank everyone who has served in the armed forces for their great sacrifices. America owes them a debt that all of us will never be able to fully pay back; it behooves every American to remember what the cost of our freedoms and those of people around the world has meant.
Veterans left home in their early years for adventure and were willing to lay down their own lives to protect the country they loved. After the goodbyes were said to family and friends, they did basic training and accepted placements around the globe. Regardless of color, race, or creed, they found new friends, a new family, and brothers and sisters to share their lives with. Despite being paid small wages, they had good and bad times, picked up good and bad habits, and worked and played hard.
With happiness when mail call was announced and sadness of missing family events, most didn’t know if or when they would see home again. They grew up fast, and yet, many never grew up at all. They fought for freedom for all of us and themselves in actual combat or in serving areas. The world was a gift to see, but their eyes and ears saw and heard physical warfare, as well as their minds persevered through psychological warfare of their minds. Those experiences are not describable or even explainable, but they remain in their hearts and souls.
The bonds of camaraderie were shared and strengthened in honored ceremonies and rituals. They counted on each other to get the job done and to survive. Both victory and tragedy were dealt with by celebrations and mourning. Death was something they lived with and accepted as a possibility in far off lands or in their future years. When their adventures were over, some came home, some started somewhere new, and some never came home.
They shared exploits and adventures that most of us will never experience or will be able to understand. There is an unspoken bond between all who have served, and every service-person favors his own branch of service. This bond between brothers and sisters remains strong even when troubles happen later in life. Veterans earned the right to stand tall and to realize the priceless gift of that service.
When veterans see each other, they hold their heads high and smile, because they share experiences others have not. All of us need to thank all service-people for what they have done and sacrificed for us. In remembering the good times and making peace with the bad times, Veterans are vessels of stories beyond compare and become the heroes we all need to be. They are the role models for all Americans to remember as our nation struggles with division, racism, hatred, and greed.
We have all been touched by a veteran, either by family or friends that have served or by standing with respect as our flag is raised in ceremonies. Those colors of red, white, and blue and the fifty stars represent who we are as a nation. The red is for the shed blood, the white is for peace, and the blue is for the azure skies that rise above our country. The stars are the angels that stand, waiting to serve, in God’s army. It is up to every American citizen to live as though Jesus Christ is coming back and to pray that other Americans will step forward and heed the call for service. For all veterans, thank you for accepting that call and for sacrificing so that we might have the freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There is no greater gift than for a man to lay down his life for another.
Anna Hartt
