On Veterans Day
Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, andWhereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday.
Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
Spouses, parents, and children sending their loved ones to such a "destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war" and then doing it again less than twenty-five years later in Europe and the Pacific - "The war to end all wars," World War I was not. Then to Korea and Vietnam, America goes to war again. And now, in 2016, we find ourselves in the midst of America's longest war - still with no end in sight.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Lincoln speaks of "never forget[ting]" and completing "unfinished work" in the context of the Civil War, but his words universally apply. How do we apply those concepts today? Taking pause on November 11 to thank, pray, and celebrate is helpful no doubt, but I think the key is to understand and apply every day the values inherent in gratitude, wisdom, liberty, equality, commitment, courage, humility, and faith. Those ideals professed so well by the giants of American history are symbolized so simply by the public servant, in a uniform wearing the American flag, selflessly sacrificing himself or herself for noble ideas that transcend the individual's own life. True for the veteran, yes, those ideals also apply to each and every one of us. So, what should we do to heed Lincoln's challenge? For me, I simply do my best to live those values every day.
A few other quick thoughts relevant to Veterans Day reflection and thanksgiving:
When I am offered thanks by family, friends, or strangers for my military service, I generally look them in the eye, shake their hand, and sincerely thank them for their appreciation and support. But I also note with great appreciation that their hard work and payment of taxes fund the military and me personally - it's a two-way commitment, and my family and I are definitely grateful for the salary taxpayers provide! Finally, I comment that we all serve in our own ways. Wearing the uniform is one excellent way to serve other people and ideas greater than oneself, but it's obviously not the only way.
Because of duty overseas, many in uniform will once again miss Thanksgiving and Christmas with their families this year. No doubt a challenge on many levels.
Remember to thank spouses, parents, children, and other family members of those who put their lives at risk to serve our nation. To watch a loved one walk out the door and not know whether he/she will return - unfathomable. And this dynamic obviously applies to other professions as well. I have neighbors whose husband/father leaves the house every day in a uniform that includes a firearm and bullet proof vest, and is charged with the difficult task of policing our communities.
Our society has come a long way since the war in Vietnam, a time when America sent it's men and women halfway around the globe to engage in an unwinnable (from the individual warfighter's perspective) conflict and then not only failed to fully and properly support them upon their return, but also treated many of them with cruelty and disrespect. Over the past fifteen years, however, our society has progressed. Even when accounting for those segments of our population who most intensely protested our military endeavors overseas, America has generally demonstrated great support to those who wear the military uniform. Whether during World Wars I or II, the challenging Vietnam era, or the exhausting military campaigns we experience today, such support is critical to the individual warfighter.
““The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.””
As an aside, similar support is critical to our nation's police officers. As was, is, and always will be the case within the military community, instances of individual wrongdoing occur within our nation's police departments. And, of course, individual accountability must occur within the framework of a fair and well functioning legal process. But any legal and policy disagreements should be directed to the policymakers and other applicable leaders, not those charged with executing exceptionally difficult tasks.
Troops being welcomed home after serving overseas. Thank you for supporting!
That's it for now. Thank you for visiting my website. To learn a bit more about Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, please visit the History Channel's excellent website here.
