Editorial
This coming Monday, November 11 marks the 101st celebration of Veterans Day here in the United States.
The holiday originally began after the conclusion of World War I also known as the Great War. While the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended the war was not signed until June 28, 1919, fight had ceased under a temporary truce on November 11, 1918.
Although the date the nation celebrates Veterans Day has changed a bit in the intervening years, in 1978 it reverted back to November 11.
As with many patriotic holidays, there will be a few moments on the news to talk about veterans of foreign wars and the like.
There will be interviews with veterans and historians, but eventually the focus will go back to the latest fashion craze or whatever headline news directors think will catch the most eyeballs.
While that is fine and good, it is our view that each of us should take more than five minutes to remember those who served and have left us, those who survived and those still in service to our country.
When you see someone in uniform or wearing a hat that shows they are a veteran, please tell them they are appreciated. A great way to do so is to say, “thanks for your service.”
Now, this is likely a common practice for many of our readers. Also, this is not meant to scold or chastise. Rather, it is a call to action for those who may not normally take the time to say something. It also serves as a good example to the next generation of leaders (our children).
Here at The Madill Record, many of us have family members who served in the Armed Forces. Some of these relatives include our parents.
We know first-hand that many veterans either do not want to talk about their experiences or do not want to be the center of attention.
As best we’ve gleaned over the years, these folks tend to be of a selfless breed. After all, it takes a special something to put a pause on your personal freedoms to go to basic training and be told how to cut your hair, what to do and train to protect your country.
Additionally, many of the jobs done by our military members pay less than their civilian counterparts. Rather, they do not do the work for the paycheck, but aim for a higher call.
A large number of our service members start their days much earlier than the rest of us; some because they are serving far from home in places like Kabul, Afghanistan, Seoul, South Korea or Aviano, Italy.
There is not enough space to list the places our soldiers have served in the past, where they are serving today and where they will go in the future.
However, travel is but one of the many sacrifices both service members and their families have to make each day.
For both the service member and their spouse, it means not coming home to that special someone when they are away. When children are involved, the spouse at home has to fill both parental roles, which is no small task.
Some service members have even had to face bad behavior from the public back home during times of unpopular conflict. Fortunately, many of them have received the necessary apologies. However, we the people should keep in mind that these are our soldiers and not our policy makers. These people deserve to be honored, respected and thanked.
This should be one of those things that does not divide based on political party registration, gender or background. We are all Americans. We are part of a common community. And we should feel honored to call these patriots our own.