Veterans Day 2021

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word, “Veteran?”

It might be “experience, expertise, know-how, proficiency, sacrifice, maybe even old-timer,” which also suggests that “old-timers” have “know-how,” which is not always true.  I can’t deny that I’m an “old-timer,” but it’s possible that it could just mean — an old dude, and some of you are thinking, “Yep, that too Bob.”

I’ve had the good fortune of being surrounded my entire adult life and probably through my formative years too, with people that I would classify as “seasoned veterans” in many ways.  Most of them had courage, convictions and lots of wisdom, but for our purposes whenever we come up to November 11 each fall, there’s attention given to a different sort of “veteran.”  On June 1, 1954, the U.S. Congress established November 11 as the day when America would pause and give thanks for the contribution and sacrifice of American veterans of all wars, past and present.

My father graduated from high school in the spring of 1943, right at the heart of the “great war,” WW2, and as with most able bodied 18-year-old Americans, he was drafted into the U.S. Army.  After basic training, he would be deployed to Western Europe and later the Philippines until both battles ended in 1945.  He used to tell me stories of those three years away from home and the sacrifices made by so many of his contemporaries.  It would be a great understatement to say that my dad was a proud veteran, and the one request he had in his later years was to have his casket draped with the stars and stripes, which we carried out.

I never had an opportunity to serve in the military, although my generation fought the tough battles in southeast Asia in the rice patties of Vietnam.  So many of the veterans of that controversial war were so mistreated when they returned home in the volatile years of the late 60’s and early 70’s.  They were just fulfilling their obligation to serve and sacrifice.  It still saddens me that many were treated so poorly. 

 Allow me this opportunity, November 11, 2021, to say to every one of you veterans at SMC who gave a chunk of your life defending the freedoms that we so often take for granted — thank you from the bottom my heart.  Be grateful everybody, for every person who took their stand to remind us that —

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE

Wave an American flag today, maybe send a text message to a veteran, or just hug the one with whom you do life.  We can stand just a little taller today because of a long line of freedom-keepers.  We salute you all on YOUR DAY.

Thanks dad, I will never forget.

 -Bob D