Veterans’ Day 2015

It was a ceasefire, an armistice, an end of four years of fighting. All fighting was to end at 11:00 a.m. on Nov 11^th, 1918. Most of it did, but not all. Almost 7,000 men would be killed before the day was over. The Peace Treaty would be signed a year later in Versailles, near Paris. Germany was not allowed to participate, nor were the Arab countries. Twenty years later an even worse war would erupt.

But on that November Day the armistice was signed by the warring countries in a railroad car at Compiegne, north of Paris. (Twenty-two years later, Hitler would force the French to surrender in that same railroad car. That car was later destroyed).

These are just some of the ironies of the so-called “war to end all wars”. The most violent century in history was based on the ignorance and arrogance of small-minded people. It was young men who paid the price.

Today is called “Remembrance Day” in Great Britain, Canada and other Commonwealth Countries. The loss of lives was too horrible to be forgotten.

After World War II, the United States called today “All Veterans Day” to remember both the living and the dead. When Memorial Day was instituted – historically commorating the US Civil War dead – November 11^th was designated a day to honor living veterans.

There are 22 million living veterans in the United States. That is less than 7% of the population. There are no living veterans of World War One. But we have not been without more wars, more dead, more wounded. And we are not without young men and women who continue to volunteer to serve in the defense of our country.

Respect for veterans ebbs and flows with the political whims of the general population. Yet, by and large, those who serve or have served in the military remain the most respected group of people in the country.

Those who have worn the uniform explicitly offer not just their service, but also their lives and their health. One can question the reasons for wars, but soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen don’t start wars, they try to end them.

Those who have served in the military don’t talk too much about their service. It’s useless to try and explain stupid decisions to people who continue to make stupid decisions.

So, today we fight illogical ideologies. Once again we have all the ravages of war. The bombings, the killings, the refugees, the death and destruction of what should be a peaceful world.

Everyone says they want peace, but there is no peace. So we have to defend the defenseless with weapons and armies. Even the Pope has an army.

Many of our BK graduates have gone into the military. This is a testimony to the courage and patriotism they somehow picked up from their youthful respect for those who teach and serve them. It would be better if there were no more need for military service, but that is not what human beings do. They seem- we seem- to like wars. Until we get into one.

So a grateful nation thanks its veterans for their service. It’s a phrase that generally embarrasses veterans, but there don’t seem to be any other words to express it.

Thus, to all our veterans, here and elsewhere, “Thank you for your service.”

Go Back