Veterans Teach-But Do We Listen?

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month: 11am on November 11, 1918.

World War I—the so-called “war to end all wars”—finally came to an end. Nine million soldiers killed and 21 million wounded. In addition, at least 5 million citizens died from disease, starvation or exposure.

As we honor veterans today, I wonder out loud what we have learned since that very first Armistice Day, later to be simply called Veterans Day.

My guess is—perhaps not much.

Power-hungry despots, dictators and psychopaths of all kinds still exercise aggression against their neighbors. Politicians in the world community in turn send young men (and now women) to their deaths in the name of securing and then preserving the peace.

In the history of war, kings used to actually lead their troops into battle. Now, political leaders make a decision from behind a mahogany desk. It’s a phone call or the wave of a pen. It is far removed from the front, from the trenches. Perhaps it is this “disconnect” that is most disturbing. If the same people making the call on the lives of millions were themselves compelled to lead the charge, we might see a marked increase in negotiation and a corresponding decline in shots fired.

Each soldier drawn into the conflict acts in patriotic fashion—obeying the orders of those above them without question. They are valiant, they are brave—they are heroes.

It is said that freedom isn’t free—and we owe an unpayable debt to those who have joined the fight. It is also said that “war is hell”. While the weapons of war have grown ever more sophisticated, the horrors of battle have been a constant from the start.

Check out the short video on World War I below—it’s called The Trenches:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3QJRM7tCI0

We salute and honor veterans today—and should do so every day. Anyone who has served their country is worthy of our praise—and we can never forget that the greatest tribute to them would be to insure that their sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters—and ours as well—NEVER need to lose their lives to preserve the freedom that so many others have fought and died for.

God Bless The U.S.A!

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