Veterans Day 2009

One of the soldiers I’ve worked with for quite a few years made a statement in regard to the Fort Hood shooting that gave me more food for thought than I suspect he’d intended.

“Amazing when something happens like this,” he’d said, “that people place soldiers on a higher pedestal than civilians.”

I couldn’t really argue with that, because I think for many freedom-loving Americans, myself included, we do look up to the men and women of the United States Military. While my friend obviously finds no justification for the hero worship, if you’ll pardon the pun, the role of the military and its effects on the lives of American citizens is a subject always worthy of discussion, especially on Veterans Day.

I can think of no one except the American Soldier or Marine who agrees to protect the Republic, without practicing some form of democracy among their own ranks.

I can think of no other group of people who would defend the freedoms of those with whom they vehemently disagree.

No one else signs up to travel to places the rest of us only hear horror stories about, sacrificing time with their own families to protect the families of others.

No one else take a job with the full realization that the job could cost their own life, and says, “yes – that’s the price I’m willing to pay.”

I’ve spent enough time with many of you to know what your classic response to me is: “Just doing our jobs.”

And I get that. But you’re doing your job for me – and for every American – because we proclaimed we wanted to live in a free country, even though a small percentage of us actually sign up for the physical fight to preserve that freedom.

For more than 200 years, you’ve defended and protected our wish to be free – you’ve promoted, defended, fought for the values that Americans hold dear.

You represent the very freedoms we cherish, because without you, we wouldn’t have those freedoms.

Yet you ask nothing in return.

So on this Veterans Day 2009, to all of you who so proudly and honorably serve America and the United States Military, you’ll always be my heroes.