As
Veteran's Day Approaches we should remember that we are not heroes.
We are the ones that gave part, if not all of our lives for this
country that we hold dear. Our opinions may differ, are wars may be
many years apart. If there is one thing that we all hold in common no
matter where or when we come from it's that we have served. To be
sure not all of us have done so willingly, not all of us have done so
with patriotism and civic duty in our hearts, what is the same
regardless of our motivations is that we we took up arms for our
country. Let us not look to the war itself nor the politicians that
tell us where to fight. Instead let us look to our fellows in arms.
The
bonds that we share transcend time and borders, near and far. And how
can we forget that not all of us survived intact? There are many of
us and that suffered wounds mental and physical, but we have all
suffered a loss. A loss of life, limb, sanity, of the lives we all
had before. Our service whether or not in wartime, has changed us and
serves to draw us closer. Let us be proud though what we have done,
regardless of the reasons War of the war we have done so. This is a
day that is meant to honor us all, but lest we forget, we are not
special, we are not heroes. We have sacrificed, bled, fought, and
died. We have faced our duties with grim determination, and a desire
to see our duties completed, whatever the costs may be. We should not
forget that we have all just done our duty the best way that we
could, and if that makes us heroes in the eyes of others, so be it.
Thank us not for the act of serving, for many of us it is a bitter
pill. To all of you, veterans, civilian, and those still serving, let
us raise a glass to those that we have lost and are not here to
celebrate with us, they are the true heroes.
