Veterans Corner
What Does Veterans Day Mean to You? By Sandra McKinney
“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as best he can, the same cause.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
Jackie McKinney
To me, a veteran is a family member. My early November, the month of Thanksgiving, is certainly the month to years were specifically celebrate our gratitude for the many blessings we have filled with acquired here in America; foremost to actually have our home called immediate America, but also for our blessings of freedom, our right to worship, family freedom of speech, democracy, civil rights, and to be protected from enlisting and foreign threats. serving in the military Since the time of the Revolutionary War, soldiers have been service. fighting to secure our freedoms. It is very fitting that the month Recently, this of November holds the celebration of Thanksgiving and also the also included celebration of Veterans Day. We are truly thankful for how the my youngest American soldiers and sailors have fought to protect our American daughter, soil and have served on foreign soil to stop threats from coming to Jessica, who America. served in the United The United States of America would not be the great country it is States Air today without the sacrifices of our military members, whether fighting Force. here at home or in a foreign country. Our military has always stepped My father up to answer the call of duty. Today, we mostly see great respect and was career military in the United States Army. I was born at Ft. Sill gratitude for our military members. Sadly, it has not always been that Army Base in Oklahoma. Being raised in a military family, I learned way. We cannot fathom what it was like during the Civil War to have to respect and honor our flag and military personnel. My father was our country divided, sometimes even brother fighting brother for a a tough disciplinarian with an Army sergeant’s attitude. He served in difference of opinion. But the victorious soldier returned home to WWII, and I am named after his best buddy in the Army. respect and love. I have witnessed a sense of pride in those serving and grew to understand the camaraderie and fellowship that veterans feel for one In more recent time (though it was 40 plus years ago), many another, especially those who have served in combat. I have a great Americans exhibited a most horrendous attitude towards our sense of patriotism and openly support all veterans. American soldiers who served during the Vietnam War. These men I place these individuals, who have sworn to support and defend and women were simply fulfilling the oath they took to the United our constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, in high States of America and did the job expected of them, only to return regard. Many have witnessed the horrors of war; many have paid home to be shunned and disrespected and then to hide the fact of their the ultimate sacrifice, always protecting the freedom of our citizens, service for many years. whether we are worthy or not. A veteran is an individual who believes in the chain of command and faithfully discharges his or her duty for It took the tragedy of September 11, 2001, to awaken respect once all Americans. again for our American military. It was the Vietnam Veterans who “Missing in Action” hits close to home, as my mother’s brother (my paved the path of respect for our returning Gulf War veterans and in uncle whom I never met) went missing during WWII when his plane turn, ALL veterans soon garnered the appreciation and esteem that was shot down. The devastation my grandparents, mother, and aunt our US military so greatly deserve. felt over this loss changed their lives. My grandfather suffered the most from this loss of his son. Never knowing what happened to him I personally love to see any veteran wear their cap stating the era probably took my grandfather to an early grave. and branch of their service. This makes it easy to recognize a veteran It is important that we honor our veterans and active duty military and to THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE and SACRIFICES. for placing themselves in harm’s way, on our behalf. Thank you to Following are some comments from civilians on what Veterans Day each of you for serving The United States of America. means to them: 24
November 2018
