By Mike Belding
What is a veteran? The official definition is provided by Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations which defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” This definition explains that any individual that completed a service for any branch of armed forces classifies as a veteran as long as they were not dishonorably discharged.
But as we know, there is much more to it than that. All veterans begin their journey as the sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters of patriotic families. At some point in their lives they decide, for a variety of reasons, to serve their county and commit themselves to selfless service.
Every veteran has raised their right hand and sworn under oath, “that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So, help me God.” And with those words, a sharp salute and handshake, each veteran has committed his or her life to the protection of others. Whether in the air, on the sea, on U.S. or foreign soil, each is steadfast in the defense of our national interests and resolute in mission accomplishment.
There is no doubt, military service demands a special kind of sacrifice. The places where you live and serve, the risk you face, the people you deal with every day — all of these are usually decided by someone else. For the time they spend in uniform, the interests of the nation must always come first. And those duties are shared by family members who make many sacrifices of their own, face separation during deployments and sometimes bear extreme and permanent loss.
For all veterans, regardless of their service and the era in which they have served, they have paid the price time and time again. They have defended America through both the best and worst of times and they have performed their duties tirelessly, with little recognition or fanfare. They have sought neither fortune nor fame. It was merely a simple love of America and the freedoms we all cherish so much.
Solders know what it is like to stand guard in the chill of the night while others sleep. They understand the meaning of hardship, standing watch at freedom’s frontier far from their loved ones. They have been cold, tired, gone without sleep, carried the heavy burden of the keepers of peace and the deliverers of war. They have fed the hungry, warmed the cold, reassured the scared and protected us all. It is their devotion to duty that gives us all strength.
Today we have an all-volunteer force. These young men and women are just like those who have gone before them; individuals who love their country, know their duty, and honor their nation by unwavering service. They have been called to serve. Serve a purpose larger than themselves, a service to their country.
From the soldiers who shivered and starved through the winter at Valley Forge to the doughboys crouched in the muddy trenches of France to the platoon who patrolled the hazy jungles of Vietnam and the young men or women who patrolled the mountains of Afghanistan or the deserts of Iraq, we remember and honor them all during Veterans Day.
The next time you see a member of our Armed Forces, say thank you. When you see a veteran wearing a ball cap declaring his service, say thank you. If you have an opportunity to send greeting cards to deployed service members, please take the time to do that. It is increasingly difficult to recruit, train and retain our active duty service members, but with a little appreciation from the rest of us, we can make them feel special and keep their spirits bright as they continue to protect us here at home, as well as abroad.
All veterans begin their journey as the sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters of patriotic families. But as we know, there is much more to it than that.