Veterans, it's our day today
Happy Veterans Day! Yep, it’s our day to celebrate. We gather with veterans and our families to celebrate this day. On this special day, war stories are authorized. If you see the eye roll that comes when you tell your stories, please remind the listener that you had exciting experiences in the military. Today is your day to tell your tales that are too real to be fiction.
Veterans come in various forms: Male and female, squid, leatherneck, flyboy, Coastie, and the ubiquitous dogface soldier. The common thread among us is that we proudly served in our great military. It’s a team effort, and each member makes a vital contribution to keeping our nation safe. There are over 200 military occupational specialties (MOS), creating a synergy second to none. I always made friends with the supply sergeant, the cooks, and the administrative branch. When you need something for a mission, there’s no substitute for a direct route to that source.
Veterans demonstrate devotion to our nation by taking the oath of enlistment and pledging it with their life to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” which in itself demonstrates their commitment to patriotism and dedication to the United States of America.
We stand and salute the flag and kneel at the grave of our fallen comrades. These actions are the opposite of many, but they have the right to do so. The chorus in “God Bless the USA,” a song written by Lee Greenwood, describes our patriotism:
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.
Those who died in war stand tall in securing freedom for our nation. Over 6,000 Marines died on Iwo Jima in the five-week battle in February and March 1945, capturing the island from the Imperial Japanese Army. The invasion designated “Operation Detachment” secured airfields for our B-29 bombers and fields for short-range fighters to extend their escort coverage for the bombers. The island was of strategic importance as a staging area to attack the Japanese main islands. The flag raised on Mt. Suribachi is the iconic image of that fierce battle and a testament to our Marines and Navy’s bravery for their success.
All who served, and the thousands on duty right now on the high seas, in the air, and in a desolate foreign land, have endured unimaginable hardships while those at home are keeping the home fires burning. We honor Blue Star families and their loved ones serving our great nation and hold Gold Star families that gave it all in the highest regard. We kneel for them in our prayers and proudly stand when we salute our flag for their service.
We veterans know that our freedom is not free. We saw our brethren give it all in battle and remember their faces every day. We do not run from battle but pursue it to the end, for surrender is not in our code. We never leave a man/woman behind. We remember that we have families at home waiting for our safe return. Some return in a flag-draped coffin. Their loved ones grieve their loss, knowing that their loved one served their country with honor and dignity. Abraham Lincoln said in his Gettysburg address “that from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.” We stand with the families of the fallen and honor their service, for we were there doing battle beside them.
The closing stanza of Greenwood’s song says it all:
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA!
It is with great honor to join all of you on this day of celebration. Happy Veterans Day!
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Jack Evensizer is a resident of Dalton Gardens and a Bronze Star recipient of the U.S. Army.
