Each year Veterans Day brings a deeper appreciation for what our forefathers and foremothers did to form our country, as well as what those who have fought and died for freedom from tyranny mean to me and our country.
This year the hard numbers are continuing to show a decline in the percentage of veterans to general population, which would be fine if we were not engaged in two wars. Those women and men on active duty around the world are strained and suffering to an extent unheard of in modern history.
This year I will be going to the Navy Memorial wreath laying in honor my of Great-Great-Uncle Seaman James Bennett. I never met him because he was killed during WWI. I did meet my other G-G Uncles who served during WWI in France. I was a child growing up listening to them talk about almost anything except what they faced fighting the Germans.
I also listened to my father, his friends, my father-in-law and others who served in WWII and Korea. They did not talk about WWII as much as they focused on the present and the future. They had served, and done so proudly. They were veterans, but importantly civilians wanting a better America.
Then it became my turn to serve. I felt an inevitability to serve even as I prepared for civilian life without any thought of serving. I would be the first generation on any side of my family in over 100 years to not serve. But, I did. My enlistment in the Air Force happened due to many reasons.
Now that I am spending time at the VA hospital preparing to have new knees installed, I suppose that is the best way to describe having mechanical parts put in to replace the originals, I am getting to know more people of my generation, and of those who were in after me. I can see the damage caused by war, I wish more people would too. The missing limbs and eyes. Veterans needing replacements for knees and ankles that were damaged and are finally giving out.
One area that is finally getting treated is our brains. My G-G Uncles and others who had served in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and thousands of other locations and in many duties civilians would never know about have suffered from mental issues such as PTSD. Now there is a push to treat the whole veteran. It is important, so very important for us.
This year is so important because I just read that the President is going to keep active duty troops in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan longer than he promised. I feel for them and their families.
I know I will be seeing them someday at veterans events and the VA hospital too.
Cross posted Colorado Pols, What-Me