[November 11, 2021] For more than two centuries, ordinary men and women held their hands up as they were sworn to “protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” From that small beginning, our Veterans began a journey that took them where very few go.
Why do people, and our society, look up to our Veterans? The answer is simple: because of their values. Through two and a half thousand years of recorded history, the greatest glory a man could achieve was on the battlefield. The Spartan Hoplite, the bowman at Agincourt, and the Marine at Belleau Wood were esteemed for the same reason. Back home, theirs was the seat of honor.
The Veteran celebrates praiseworthy virtues. Honor, excellence, accountability, integrity, commitment, discipline, respect for tradition, and courage. Some call these values “old”; the wise call them “proven.”
Our society flees discomfort, to say nothing of danger. As you know, our military specializes in discomfort! It runs to danger! America is forgetting a human truth that our Veterans have not: the greatest things are always the hardest things.
Our military is a fighting force, but even more a fighting spirit. We have jets and artillery, but our values are our greatest weapons. We stand watch as guardians of an unmatched tradition. Be courageous. Speak the truth even if you are the only one who will. Preserve, nurture and spread our virtues in a land where they are scarce.
Today, is the one day set aside by the U.S. Congress to honor our Living Veterans. Take the time to thank a Vet today for defending all the good things America offers, and that we all enjoy.
Great message for Veterans Day, Gen. Satterfield. Thank you for your service and for what you continue to do for us.
Excellent Veterans Day message, thank you Gen. Satterfield for your continued service to our military and veterans and to your own community. If you have a speech today, please publish it here. Hey, thanks for what you do. Oh, and congratulations on your new book, “Our Longest Year in Iraq.”
HAPPY VETERANS DAY ……..
Just sitting in my easy recliner chair, drinking coffee with my “dog” sitting beside me. We will be honoring our veterans today at a small ceremony being held in the small Ohio town I live in. We will sit and listen to speeches and politicians talk but I will speak directly to veterans and tell them thank you.
Learn more, read here: Here’s a detailed profile of the veteran population from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey. https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=s2101&tid=ACSST5Y2019.S2101
Statistics include:
When veterans served.
Demographics – age, sex, race/Hispanic or Latino origin.
Median income.
Educational attainment.
Employment status.
Poverty status.
Disability status.
Thanks, interesting info.
Is Veterans Day on the same day every year?
When first celebrated as Armistice Day, the day marked the end of World War I, formally recognized on the “11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month” in 1918.
https://www.military.com/veterans-day
Inevitably, a nation is judged on how it treats those who fight for it. Those nations fall that disparage those that protect it.
Wow, excellent point. I’ll use that quote at work today [yep, gotta work, my school doesn’t take the day off]. Happy Veterans Day to all and special thanks to Gen. Satterfield and his family, too.
Excellent point, “Cat” …… Sounds a bit Lincoln esk.
All, thanks for what you do and Cat a Miss thanks for your comment. I’ll also be with my buddies, all veterans. We plan to have a great day.
We celebrate and honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect for you, our veterans.
There are many in senior leader positions who believe the opposite, and while they bide their time by saying nothing, they slowing slip a knife into the backside of those who do support our veterans. Too bad there is evil in our own communities, often in education and politics who are like this.
Yes, many sad folks out there … maybe they should have had a good “ass wuppin'” (to quote old warrior) sometime in their lives to straighten the out.
Thanks Ben for a spot on comment. Cheers to all my army mates.
—– and to mine as well. I served in the 1st Armor Div and all my buddies from Iraq will get a call from me today.
Be a good person today and go out of your way to thank a Vet.