What does that even fucking mean? I’m pretty sure that those who say that do not actually understand what Veterans Day really means. So, Here is my take on it as a veteran. I wrote this newsletter understanding it would probably fall on deaf ears. Maybe you will take something from what I said. Enjoy, and do not thank me for my service. That’s not why I served…
Veterans Day holds the weight of history in its arms. It’s not just a date marked on the calendar; it’s a solemn recognition of sacrifice, service, and the brotherhood forged in the melting pot of conflict. I’ve stood among the ranks and felt the pulse of camaraderie that beats within a unit. You see, in the military, teamwork isn’t a buzzword—it’s the fabric of survival. The bonds made in service, they’re not fleeting. They’re the steel threads that weave friendships lasting a lifetime.
But Veterans Day isn’t just about reminiscing the battles we fought or the camaraderie we shared. It’s a tribute to all who’ve served, sacrificed, and sometimes laid down their lives in the line of duty. It marks the end of World War I, the “war to end all wars,” in 1918. The guns fell silent on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. This day, once called Armistice Day, evolved into what we now honor as Veterans Day.
Why recognize us? Some of us didn’t serve for the parades or the “thank you’s.” It was about duty, about protecting the values this country holds dear. It’s the knowledge that we did our part to safeguard the liberties and freedoms that define America. Many of us carry memories that are heavy, some scars unseen, etched into the soul. We carry them not for glory but for the pride of having done what we could to keep this nation free.
In the service, it’s not just a job; it’s a way of life. You learn to count on the person beside you, irrespective of their background or beliefs. The uniform erases the lines of race, color, and creed, leaving only the common purpose of defending our nation. There’s beauty in that unity—when a diverse group stands as one, a tapestry woven from different threads, bound by a single cause (I was a parachute rigger, hence the reference).
And here’s a truth most don’t realize: the greatest thanks for many of us isn’t in the words “thank you for your service.” It’s in seeing the nation we served united, not torn apart by political divides or blinded by hatred. The best way to honor us is to remember the ideals we stood for. To see an America where the common good outweighs personal agendas, where respect and understanding triumph over division.
We don’t need endless gratitude, but we do yearn for a country that stands together, where differences are respected, not weaponized. It’s disheartening to see the country we fought for torn by animosity, by sides more focused on being right than on finding common ground. We fought to protect a nation that stands undivided by political views, racial biases, or religious differences.
The remedy? It’s in finding our way back to the center, to an America where we’re not adversaries but compatriots. A nation where political debates are discussions, not battlegrounds. Maybe you witnessed the Republican debate recently? The best homage to our service lies in fostering a country that upholds the values we defended—a country where the freedom we fought for is cherished, where unity is not just a word, but a way of life.
So, this Veterans Day, in the midst of parades and salutes, consider not just the individual sacrifices but the collective hope for a nation united. It’s the call to action: to honor the legacy of service by healing the divides, by standing together in the name of the country we love.