My Thoughts On Veteran's Day

Ross Chandler

In a few days we will acknowledge another Veterans Day. This year it is on a Tuesday and it is always on the 11th day of November of every year (a congressional designated holiday). On this day our nation acknowledges the moment when the guns of World War I went silent -- and we recognize the service and the sacrifice of all our nation's veterans. Including those who served at Valley Forge, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Kandahar, Baghdad, and many more locations. We should be grateful to the veterans who have fought for our freedom. Freedom is not free; in fact it is very expensive.

Following is the general definition of a veteran: “A military veteran is any person who served for any length of time in any military service branch”. However, the definition of those veterans eligible for veteran benefits or other veteran provisions such as retirement, disability, tax-free status, etc. quickly becomes complicated.

Now come my thoughts on a veteran:

ü A veteran is a person who joined a branch of the military with no clue of what they were getting into. In my case, no one told me that I would be subject to the tough Uniform Code of Military Justice and all the other laws, criminal and civil. No one told me that drill instructors could make your life hell for 90 days or more. No one told me there were places on earth that are both cold and hot as hell (In my case Shemya Island, Alaska and Northern Pakistan).

ü All veterans are underpaid, most are sent to unfamiliar places, lived in spartan conditions, and shoulder awesome responsibility. Some lose limb, sight, legs, or sanity. Some are killed. All are subject to any sacrifice for their country.

ü A veteran must be sound of body and mind to be in the military. In other words you must be physically and mentally fit to be stressed, maimed, or killed in the service of your country.

ü Most veterans also have families who share separation, financial problems, anxiety, and other hardships.

20+ years of military life later, I am proud of being a veteran and the lessons I learned over the years. Because I was in the Air Force, I honestly feel I write better, plan better, work with others better, and shoulder responsibility better than if I had drifted through life without the military experience.