Veterans Day 2009
I suppose it was somewhat heartening to see that our national parks and forests will be giving free admissions to U.S. veterans today in honor of Armistice Day. But there’s a small, bitter part of me which always finds such gestures to ring rather hollow and to be far from enough. The debt we owe to our returning heroes runs much deeper than a free pass to Disneyland.
Don’t get me wrong here… things are much better than they used to be back in my day. (I’ll just pause here a moment as I sit on the porch and knock some ashes out of my pipe while you young’uns gather round in a circle.) I still remember back when my service was finished and I came home, the military had “unofficially” relaxed the travel rules for us. Technically, when traveling under orders on free MAC flights, you were supposed to wear either your dress blues or tropical whites (depending on the season) until you reached your destination. But the word went out that we would be allowed to wear our civilian clothes while going home. The reason? Because even though the Vietnam war had technically been over for a few years by the time I got out, people were still actually spitting on the returning soldiers, sailors and airmen when they got off the planes and yelling, “baby killer.” It was a sad time, and really didn’t instill a feeling of pride in us for the service we offered up for our country.
But as I said, things have certainly improved. Whether it’s the Thank a Vet program lining up to shake hands and offer thanks for our returning warriors or Project Valor – IT providing special computer technology to our wounded vets, people do get involved in recognizing the sacrifices of our troops. But it’s still never really enough. Conditions at veterans hospitals remain below par in many instances. Grave markers are getting mixed up and remains go missing at our cemeteries.
And perhaps the worst of all is the shocking number of unemployed and, in some cases, homeless vets across the country. There was a time when employers competed to hire veterans. They not only recognized the experience and discipline found in job applicants who are veterans, but knew that it spoke well of their company to have them on the payroll. Today you can still get a few bonus points on your civil service examination by showing your DD-214, but largely employers would rather see your experience on Wall Street than your time on the front lines.
But people can still make a difference today, even in small but very meaningful ways. If you know a veteran, be they a friend, co-worker or family member, take a moment out and go shake their hand and just say, “Thank you for your service.” It will mean a lot. Those who serve disrupt their entire lives and their whole family is making a sacrifice over a long period of time to serve the nation. And if you happen to know one of the Gold Star families, let them know that you haven’t forgotten that they made the ultimate sacrifice when their son or daughter gave the last full measure, and that we can never repay them in full.
Veteran’s day is a lot more than just an excuse for a party, a day when your mail doesn’t get delivered or a free day off for government workers. It has always meant something important, so keep it in your hearts today.
UPDATE: Moonbattery points out that veterans will be able to eat for free today at all Applebee’s restaurants. A small gesture, but it’s nice, isn’t it? They may start seeing more of my business this winter.
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Remember.
I've seen the full color view of that picture — the fourth person from the left is the friend that committed suicide in the city lockup.
For the animal lovers here's some good clips of pets welcoming home vets:
http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=29614
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40324
Taps is played. It goes out over the nation on radio and TV and can be heard everywhere.
The notes are played with a deliberate hesitancy: Da…ta…daaah..There is a pause between the phrases. Ta..ta daaaah, and the first note of each is dragged out just a bit more than it should: Myaaaah ma myaaaaah…The poor bugler must be overcome with grief. Then, the next phrase… wait for it…… there it is, …my God, I'd thought he'd given up altogether and went home. There was such a pause. But, the sad blaring goes on.
There is no mistaking it: Everyone in the nation is being put into the morose, misty mood, a consensus of memoriam for those who have died while enlisted in the armed services.
If once having been an enlisted man, and having the term “veteran” attached to him, dying of whatever causes entitles a man to have a mournful taps played out at his funeral. Women soldiers also, but we seem to be mostly focused on men, especially if they died from guns and bombs, or operating guns and bombs, ideally bravely mowing down some enemy in the style of Rambo, in defiance of orders and in an effort to save his comrades, under impossible odds.
We don't blatantly set ranks or grades on who is most deserving, or who is less, but attitudes can be measured by numbers of people attending, and whether the funeral is broadcast in the media.
While we may all agree that the majority of us are working to move humanity forward, and to protect us in some way (whether from ourselves, or someone else, or even from some environmental or social poisons) the soldier is accorded a special honor.
We don't mourn so publicly when a window washer or a welder falls to his death from the 32nd floor, even though he was risking his life for us in a very real way. The journalist killed in Iraq doesn't get a flag-draped coffin the same as the soldiers who were killed by the very same roadside bomb. And, the soldier who comes home and commits suicide just to quiet the terrible noises in his head get nothing.
Though we revere those, like the civilian medics in a crashed helicopter, who have risked their lives to help save the lives of others, we have a special place for those risking their lives to kill our perceived enemies. It's just the nature of the hive mentality.
But, the loved ones don't want their soldier boy to get a nice funeral, they just want him to come home safe and sound. If they are religious folk, they would like their son or daughter to go to heaven, but just not right now.
For myself, I would rather have them play a bagpipe over the shreds of my carcass, rather than a bugle. Play a Bob Dylan song, like “Times They Are a-Changin' ” or maybe “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”
Jazz….
Don't forget about the free meals at Applebees, Golden Corral, and Pondarosa (et. al).
Is it a bit much? I doubt it. I personally think that veterans (especially Vietnam Vets) deserve more than they have – including free “cadillac” healthcare for life like Congress – not just VA Hospitals.
Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served!
FREE APPLEBEES!
No proof of purchass nessesary? I…I can't fit into my uniform anymore. Can I wear a hat? Damn….they're closed now anyway.