I am going to post my annual Veterans Day message a little early this year (hours are still messed up from the trip home, wide awake, might as well do it now). For many of us, Veterans Day is just another holiday, in some cases, a day off work. Thats about as far as many people ever see it. Today, stop and put a little thought into why we celebrate this day. If you know a veteran, and you feel the need to do something for him, simply and sincerely say thanks for your service, nothing more is needed, that simple act means more than you will ever know. There are two quotes that always come to mind for me on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, they say it pretty succinctly for me: We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm (George Orwell) A veteran is a man who, at some time in his life, wrote a blank check to the American People for any amount up to and including his life (Unknown) No nation survives once the number those rough men who are willing to pick up a rifle, shoulder a pack and move toward the sound of the guns declines past a certain point. A nation will not survive as a nation, once that breed of men gets too thin on the ground. That is a simple fact, if you doubt this, consult history on the matter. Nations live and die on backs of their warrior classes. Take the time today for a moment of silent and respectful reflection on the day and what it means. If you are so inclined, hoist a glass for those rough men of Orwells who answered the call and in doing so, crossed over Jordan, those men for whom that blank check was cashed for the full amount. Later Add-On: To the cousins up North (Canada), and across the pond (Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and any others I missed), I know you celebrate the same holiday we do, only youd call it Remembrance Day. A hat tip to your veterans, past, present and future, and a heartfelt thanks for their service, seems we all did a bit of standing shoulder to shoulder, even back to back in the last 100 years or so!
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 05:23:34 +0000
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