Last Friday, November 11, 2016, was veteran’s day. Veteran’s day is meant to be a day to remember and appreciate those who have served our country. Sadly, this year November 11 was a day of protesting and violence as people lash out following the election. Some are scared for our country and want to give a voice to their fears, others are angered by these protests and believe that the liberal party and those who stand against Trump’s victory, need to compromise so that we can come together as a people and unify as one nation as we move forward. Both arguments have merit, and everyone should feel safe to voice their concerns as is our right as American citizens. However, as voices rang out on Veteran’s day, we forgot about the men and woman who fought and died to preserve our rights.
Whether you approve of our countries involvement in other nations, our veterans deserve our support and respect. The choice to leave home and enlist in the armed forces takes bravery beyond what I possess and a devotion to our country and its people that should garner our unconditional gratitude.
Every now and then you’ll see a feel good story on the news. An ordinary person did something extraordinary in the face of danger and saved a life. They are celebrated and honored for their character and integrity and the peppy news anchor will give a hardy hip-hip-hooray for the civil hero before moving on to the weather. Yet somehow the men and woman who choose to do something extraordinary in the face of danger everyday by risking their lives for others and leaving their friends, family, and home to do so, get lost in the hustle and bustle and their sacrifice becomes mundane. Seeing a soldier becomes a common place incidence, about as likely as finding a dollar in your pocket. You smile, feel good for a second, and then move on with your day, soon forgetting about the faceless soldier who passed by.
But these men and woman aren’t faceless. They are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, PEOPLE. They have favorite foods that they couldn’t have because all they could get on deployment was a red beans and rice MRE. They had best friends and relatives who got married and had children without them because they had to be standing guard for 14 hours straight. They have a favorite picture that they’ll never look at the same way again, because it went through everything with them, in case it was the last time they ever had a chance to see their face, and had to say goodbye to a piece of paper. And they have buddies that they wish they could call at two o’clock in the morning, because only they can understand the nightmares that they’re dealing with, but can’t because they gave in to their own nightmares and chose to stop suffering.
These people deserve our respect and undying gratitude, but on the day when we as a nation should be coming together to show them we care, we became so enveloped with our own emotions that we forgot.
We cannot forget. Our veterans are our backbone, but don’t let them be our background.
So yes, you have the right to step on that flag, but next time you do, remember the families who have to receive a folded one.
