Veterans’ Day: Thank a Hero
What is Veteran’s Day all about? Let’s start with what it isn’t. It isn’t about sales at the local Mall. It isn’t supposed to be a day of speeches and handshaking by politicians. It is supposed to be a day where a grateful nation thanks their soldiers for serving their country.
Cox and Forkem have produced one of the most memorable drawings of what Veteran’s Day is all about. Even though it was drawn in 2004, it is as relevant today as it was when it was drawn.
Isn’t it interesting how much mutual respect the older and newer generations of veterans have for each other. Each side recognizes the sacrifice of the other. Thank God for the American soldier.
A dying generation of US soldiers saved the world from Germany during the Great War. An older generation of soldiers protected us from the Axis powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan. It was a war fought for the ever important heartland of Europe. After December 7, 1941 the US rose to the occasion and defended America and American interests. In the Korean War our soldiers rose once again, this time to stop the spread of communism. Using this same domino theory, the US sent soldiers to Vietnam to pull France’s chestnuts out of the fire. And our heroic soldiers have defended America and American interests in Iraq twice.
So what does all of this mean? In times of crises, America has always been able to count on its people to rise to the occasion and serve with distinction. These young men and women are the very best American has to offer. And I would be proud to serve with any of them. They make America great, ensure prosperity, and protect us from enemies—foreign or domestic. We call them veterans. I call them heroes.
There are approximately 25 million veterans in the United States today. We don’t need to just remember our dead soldiers, but our live ones as well. They all gave their time and energy to protect this great country. Thank a veteran…thank a hero today.
Murdoc Online has this great poster:
Jeff Emanuel from Red State has a post entitled, “The True Meaning of “Hero” as he recounts the actions of a future Congressional Metal of Honor winner, Jason Dunham.
I Love Jet Noise has much more on the Jason Dunham story.
Black Five has a great piece written by the late Mike Royko (1932 - 1997) who originally penned it in 1993. In it he talks about what it meant to be a soldier and how afterwards, he still had to work on veteran’s day. It is really good, but he had this jewel at the end concerning all of those who try to take advantage of a that is supposed to be reserved in remembering the service of her veterans.
Of course that’s a raw deal. So I propose that the members of Congress revise Veterans Day to provide the following:
- All veterans — and only veterans — should have the day off from work. It doesn’t matter if they were combat heroes or stateside clerk-typists.
Anybody who went through basic training and was awakened before dawn by a red-neck drill sergeant who bellowed: “Drop your whatsis and grab your socks and fall out on the road,” is entitled.
- Those veterans who wish to march in parades, make speeches or listen to speeches can do so. But for those who don’t, all local gambling laws should be suspended for the day to permit vets to gather in taverns, pull a couple of tables together and spend the day playing poker, blackjack, craps, drinking and telling lewd lies about lewd experiences with lewd women. All bar prices should be rolled back to enlisted men’s club prices, Officers can pay the going rate, the stiffs.
- All anti-smoking laws will be suspended for Veterans Day. The same hold for all misdemeanor laws pertaining to disorderly conduct, non-felonious brawling, leering, gawking and any other gross and disgusting public behavior that does not harm another individual.
- It will be a treasonable offense for any spouse or live-in girlfriend (or boyfriend, if it applies) to utter the dreaded words: “What time will you be home tonight?”
- Anyone caught posing as a veteran will be required to eat a triple portion of chipped beef on toast, with Spam on the side, and spend the day watching a chaplain present a color-slide presentation on the horrors of VD.
- Regardless of how high his office, no politician who had the opportunity to serve in the military, but didn’t, will be allowed to make a patriotic speech, appear on TV, or poke his nose out of his office for the entire day.
Any politician who defies this ban will be required to spend 12 hours wearing headphones and listening to tapes of President Clinton explaining his deferments.
Now, deal the cards and pass the tequila.
Other blogs with a tribute to veterans include:
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