We are mostly not "heroes", but we are "veterans"!

Did you enjoy all the noise spewing out of our politicians during the past few months? The freedom to do that, get elected, and send our young into battle regardless of "why" lies on the backs of veterans who have survived the folly of power. Veterans did the dirty work, got killed or messed up mentally and physically because of "duty". While serving our country, we helped to fix the errors of our political leaders. We are mostly not "heroes", and certainly not "victims", but we are "veterans"! 

You don't need to buy our meals or ask us about the "heroism" of just doing our duty on Veterans Day. But, please acknowledge the fact that we served. We did not serve for the idiots in politics, but for everyone. We served for the interests of the poor, as well as the rich. We served for the Democrats, as well as the Republicans. We served for the underprivileged; we served for the immigrants; we served for workers; we served for the arts; we served for the poorly educated; we served for the handicapped; we served for the obese; we served for the drug addicted; we served for our public servants; we served for the dreamers; we served for the hungry; we served for the homeless; we served for you!

So, how can you thank us? There certainly are those who will appreciate your "thank you", the nice "gestures", the "pat on the back". We often laughed about the official letters of recognition that were placed in our personnel files while we served in the military. We laughed because these "attaboys" did not change anything. All the faults of the military, all the imperfection, the career idiots all the way up the chain of command to our political leaders did not change because of some note that was lost in our personnel records. For the moment, these things are nice, but do you think that those actions actually change anything? Do you truly believe these to be the appropriate "thank you" and let's move on? 

You can, and should, thank a veteran on Veterans Day as well as everyday. The best way to thank a veteran, however, is to be a part of the same world that they are. Make your contribution to society without complaining about the downside. Volunteer your skill and energy towards the betterment of the society that you are a part of. Do something positive that doesn't involve just enriching yourself and telling everyone else that they should thank you because of the "trickle down" of some pittance that overflowed from your success. Society is not improved because of what any of us do for ourselves, it is improved by what we do for others. In the military, the individual is sacrificed for the benefit of team force. The key to that force is the term, "team." Individuals might become heroes, but not before sacrificing their personal interests for the good of others. In order to thank us, you need to understand us. In order to understand us, you need to let go of yourself and you personal interests. In order to thank a veteran, you need to recognize their sacrifice by making one of your own. In order to thank a veteran, you need to be selfless in your appreciation for their participation in the society that you benefit from.