I find myself reflecting on this Veteran’s Day. The day has taken on a new significance for me now that my son, son-in-law and daughter-in-law are all serving in the Navy. I’m sure they’ll go to a participating restaurant to get their free meal today and they deserve it.
I’m sure you’ve seen the viral video of a man who simply asked if there was a military discount. The lady behind him in line got all offended and got in the guy’s face about wanting “special treatment.”
There’s nothing “special” about it. They earn it being away from home so much and for missing holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. They deserve it when they are out to sea for nine months or more or deployed to a foreign land. They earn it when 5,000 people on an aircraft carrier try to shower; so much for hot water.
They earn it when they face dangers not just at war when they’re deployed but on a typical work day. Earlier this year a sailor got too close to a propeller. Yeah, not good.
This year I find myself thinking about World War I and the brutality of that war. We didn’t have the capabilities we have today and in some ways it was more brutal. You had to get closer to your enemy which, in some ways, made it more personal.
According to historyonthenet.com, “World War One was one of the deadliest conflicts in the history of the human race, in which over 16 million people died. The total number of both civilian and military casualties is estimated at around 37 million people.”
I think of the young soldier, maybe 19 years old, sitting in a trench surrounded by mud and blood. He’s thousands of miles from home missing his family or his girl. Darkness falls and he just wants to make it to morning when he can see his enemy. It’s going to be a long night of waiting and listening.
Social media is flooded with pictures today of people who served. Old fuzzy pictures show us men and women when they were in their prime. It’s good to remember and it’s good to honor them all.
This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended that war. War that some hoped would never come again.
They didn’t number them back then as we hoped we would never see another. That first world war was called the Great War. It’s a shame we had to start numbering them.
So Veterans of the past and those that are currently serving we thank you for your service. Enjoy a meal and enjoy the day.
The bells will ring on the 11th hour of this 11th day of the 11th month. Then we’ll need you back to work to keep us safe.
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