Critical Mass

Today, November 11, is a national celebration that is too often overlooked or made cynical. Today is Veteran’s Day. Formerly known as Armistice Day after the signing of the armistice ending World War I, Veteran’s Day has come to be a day of recognition of those men and women who have taken upon their shoulders the burden of caring for and protecting our country through service in the military.

On November 10 of last year, the 230^th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, I had the great honor and pleasure of witnessing an interview with Major General Fred E. Haynes, a retired Marine Corps officer and a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Such a man is rare indeed, and his kind is thinning every year as the race with age overwhelms them. His story, though not always happy, was inspiring, and his firm resolve for democracy and what he called “being a decent human being” were a notable challenge to today’s culture of self-indulgence. Doing the right thing is not always easy, but it is always right.

There is a special place in the collective American heart for military servicemen and women. The emphasis we place on military leadership was obvious in the last presidential election and the quibbling over who was where and doing what during Vietnam. Moreover, ten out of our last eleven presidents served in the military. Perhaps we simply want our Commander-in-Chief to have some experience with the troops he is commanding. Or possibly we recognize that it takes something special in people to look beyond themselves to the good of the country and sacrifice their time, effort and possibly life or limb to protect her.

Regardless of our political worldviews, I would hope that each of us recognizes the sacrifices that have been made and continue to be made on our behalf by military personnel. I grew up reading biographies and autobiographies of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who fought in the World Wars, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and anywhere else challenges to freedom and democracy arose. I have known many who took it upon themselves to join the military, including my father, who served in the Army Reserve in the 1960s, my brother, a recent graduate of Army basic training, and my brother-in-law, a current sergeant in the Marine Corps. I have nothing but respect for all who serve, whatever the capacity.

I do not agree with every action the U.S. military has taken; on the other hand, I know of multitudes of stories that exemplify the core principles of our military as a whole. They are personal, like the Army’s seven values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. They are national, like the theme of so many police departments: To Serve and Protect. They are sacrificial, one and all.

I beseech you to seek out the veterans in your life and thank them for the time they have given to protect you and your loved ones. It may be your grandfather, the helicopter pilot in Korea, or your father, the sailor in Vietnam. It may be one of your fellow students who spent time in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea or elsewhere. As we move into the holiday season where we count our blessings and think of the gifts we have been given, remember those whose lives and deaths paved the way for the freedom to do so.