For many Americans, holidays have become something to look forward to, because they mark the beginning of special season like summer, a day off from work, or the chance to get a deal on some big purchase. Too often, we fail to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday.
When I think about Veterans Day, I never think about it as being my holiday. Sure, I spent my entire life committed to the Army; I served in Germany at the end of the Cold War, spent countless days and nights away from my family, and deployed to two wars. No, I remember and celebrate those who came before me, those who served alongside me, and the families who watched their sons and daughters go off to defend our nation. For me, Veterans Day is a day to celebrate a special bond that I have with my family members and my brothers in arms. I set aside a moment each year to picture my grandfather and his brother on a train for the first time as they leave the family farm to go to World War I, and the stories my father would share with me about his time in the Army Air Corps during World War II. I take time to remember the soldiers I served with who joined from all over the country: Louisiana, Alaska, Puerto Rico, New York, Idaho and probably every other state and territory. It reminds me that America's greatness in not born out of what we manufacture or the wealth we produce, but rather out of the sacrifice of our people.
As veterans, we did not join the military for fame and fortune; we joined because our country needed us. Lately, I have spent a lot of time passing through the corridors of Walter Reed Military Medical Center, outside Washington, DC, and I see today's Wounded Warriors, members of the Greatest Generation and Vietnam Veterans of all races and religions. They mingle together, never questioning anyone's background, because they all share the same legacy and the same honor. I do not see men and woman who "cannot do something." No, quite the opposite, I see men and women who "have done something," men and women who have done the most important thing our country can ask of anyone: they sacrificed for our freedom.
Veterans Day reminds me that our veterans and those still serving allow us the freedom to speak to our convictions, pray in the manner we prefer as individuals, and openly debate different view on all social issues. For me, Veterans Day is a day when I think of myself as an average American, and I say thank you to my fellow veterans. I would hope that every other American takes a few moments this Veterans Day to remember those who provide for our freedom and say two simple words— “Thank You.”
