Happy Veterans Day to All who have served!
The sacrifice of our veterans is what makes the lives we live possible. They protect the freedoms that so many of us hold dear. And they protect those freedoms for people who don't care, and who are ungracious enough to deride our military with offensive and abusive names.
Millions have served; many have fought and died for those freedoms. They have done their duty.
It is our duty as civilians to never forget.
God Bless Them All.
I read your comment on facebook about troop morale.
ReplyDeleteI have 2 close family members in the military. Both hold rank and are responsible for many other people.
The problem with morale... one of my family members was a reservist with a full time job as a police officer and 4 children. At 35 years old, he was called up to serve full time. He just returned from his 4th tour. His 4th tour of war in 7 years.
His military salary is 60% of his salary as a police officer. His savings are depleted. Everyone in the family has been helping out financially, but with the state of the economy - we've cancelled christmas presents this year.
The problem is that we do not have enough soldiers for these wars we are fighting, and we've used up the people who have been fighting for us for seven years.
New people aren't signing up. Young Americans do not want a military lifestyle, especially when there are so many other options. And that is the state of the current American military... too many of them are there because it was their *only* option. I mean - I don't know too many people from Lincolnway who ended up in the military... and most parents I know would fight against their kids if military service was brought up instead of going to college.
I think we owe it to the members of the military to really look at the real reasons behind their fatigue (and growing suicide rate). We owe it to them to not make it political, but to make it ONLY about their reality, and what they need.
I completely agree. We as a nation have so devalued our military and the respect they deserve it is causing a great many problems. I think the key here is that the respect needs to start at the top: from the president on down, decisions needs to be made in a timely and efficient manner, considering the best advice possible. Too many in government, including the current president, want to marginalize our military, which creates a terrible public image. When the general public sees so many of its "leaders" with this kind of attitude, the effect multiplies; hence, no one is encouraged to seek out a military career. But this is all smaller parts of a larger whole; the best place to begin righting the wrongs is at the top.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I believe there were a fair amount of people from my years at L-W that are now or have been in the military.