At 18 I walked often into the wild blue yonder to be a soldier. Part of me thought that I wanted to do something grand and part of me just did what the rest of my family had done when they graduated high school (or not graduate high school). Some families have a history of working the land, some of earning degrees. In my family it was to go into the service. Having served in the Air Force I find that the emotional response to Veterans Day, for me, is a little off kilter.
There is an important part that I think gets left out in all the pride. A lot of kids go into the service because it is there only option. I do not say thank you to them for going in. Instead I say thank you for not running away when it gets scary. I am grateful to all the soldiers that stand with there comrades and do not turn and run to leave a man alone. I believe that democracy its self is a grand freedom. A true patriot believes in the opportunity to disagree. America is founded on that: from the first immigrants that sought religious freedom in the new land, to the gays now who wish to be married.
I went in the service to gain opportunity. I do not belive it is noble to rage into the night with out knowlege of the impact and heart ache of war. Veterans do not find that war is a thing to be celebrated, brotherhood is. If a man believes that brotherhood is more important and can be developed instead of war, then I salute him/her and hand over all my badges to the man that stands next to another in kindness and brotherhood.
Happy Veterans Day to the soldiers that worked together for brotherhood and believe in a peaceful nation.
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