VETERAN SALUTE

Happy Veterans Day! Yep, it’s our day to celebrate our service to our country, and remember serving with dedication, courage, and pride. We carry our military traditions into our lives, and enhance society with instilled moral and ethical values. As veterans, we took the Oath of Enlistment, raising our right hand and spoke this:

“I, (state name of enlistee), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Now, I am not so good at following orders, but steadfastly “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” We were held to the standard of our oath, and bring a level of patriotism above that of our fellow citizens. We follow military ceremonious traditions to honor our flag and national anthem. Although the flag code is not a “law,” it serves as a guide to honor our flag. We are now allowed to remain covered and salute the flag, and of course stand at attention for the playing of the national anthem, rendering a proud salute. We are in good company with those who stand with us.

Veterans are honorably recognized now, especially when we show pride with a cap or other apparel identifying our service. One fellow I met the other day in Costco was shopping with his wife and wearing a VFW cap. I introduced myself and asked where he served. He said he served in Europe in 1946 during the occupation. Proud of his service, he stood tall and said he was in communications and there were “more generals there than in the Pentagon.” We all got a chuckle out of that. He is just one of many vets I have met over the years. They all have a story to tell. You never know who you will meet. Stop and talk to a vet and you will be amazed at some of the stories they have and things they did. Heroes in our midst for sure, but all feel that they were only doing their duty.

Veterans Day evolved from signing the armistice between Allies of World War I and Germany, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, at eleven o’clock in the morning, in 1918, ending the war. Not to be confused with Memorial Day that honors our war dead, Veterans Day honors veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. Our 28th President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), in a message to his “countrymen,” expressed what he felt the day meant to Americans on the first Armistice Day in 1919. A resolution by our 30th President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) called for the observance of November 11 “with appropriate ceremonies.” Congress made it a legal holiday in 1938, and in 1954 amended the bill by replacing the word “Armistice” with “Veterans.” Since then the holiday is known as “Veterans Day.”

“God Bless the U.S.A.” is the signature song of country artist Lee Geenwood. It is an American patriotic song about an unnamed man who, if he lost everything, and if he had to start over again, would start again in the U.S.A. You know this song and here are the lyrics:

If tomorrow all the things were gone

I worked for all my life

And I had to start again

With just my children and my wife

I thank my lucky stars

To be living here today

‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom

And they can’t take that away

And I’m proud to be an American

Where at least I know I’m free

And I won’t forget the men who died

Who gave that right to me

And I’d gladly stand up next to you

And defend her still today

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA!

The words of this song ring true for us living here, and we proudly stand for the freedoms we enjoy today, and salute those who gave their lives to secure the “blessings of Liberty” we enjoy here in the good old United States of America.

Happy Veterans Day!

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Jack Evensizer is a proud veteran of the United States Army and resides in Dalton Gardens.