May I respectfully offer an opinion, and invite everyone and especially every Veteran to reply?
Veterans of times past, such as WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the first Gulf War and of today from Iraq and Afganistan.....and perhaps as importanly, the times between, including the Cold War.....know that technology and circumstances change war.....but not the heart.....
For example, there is a knowlege among sailors.....not spoken of, but universally known.....not being there when your ship is in action, you feel as though you have abandoned her.....
When the USS Saratoga lost a pilot in the first Gulf War.....I felt as though I had abandoned her.....I was not there when she needed me.....
I had been through such a loss with her before.....in 1984 a young LT from VA-81 disappeared off the radar the day before pulling in.....the family had "Welcome Home Daddy" signs up.....how do you tell them pre-school kids that Daddy will not come home ever again?
The pain and black cloud was over the ship for several days.....so I knew.....
Nowadays the same I believe happens with those coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.....knowing their comrades are still there.....and they are not.....
Some call it survivors guilt.....I disagree.....I believe it goes far deeper.....
Agree or disagree, your call.....but if you have someone you love home from the war.....LISTEN.....just listen, no judgement, no opinion.....just open ears and nothing more.....and do NOT expect it is a day or two.....this takes time.....
Hershman, I appreciate your insight. This July 4th we, as a nation, should recognize and support every individual who took the time out of their lives to serve this country.
Today there are an estimated 300,000 veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder "home" from Afghanistan and Iraq. Who knows how many others there are from other conflicts? But the reality is that veterans do not "leave the job" when they are discharged, and we should all be supportive of them and all their families.
I saw on the television news the story of a veteran who was shot and killed after returning from Iraq and suffering from PTSD. He won't be counted among those who died in action, but he should.
Veterans never stop paying the price of their sacrifice on our behalf. We should never stop thanking them.
posted by MaxB
3 months ago
What wonderful sentiments the both of you express on this 2008 Fourth of July!
While Veterans Day and Memorial Day are about those who served. Independance day is about the bravery of our founding fathers to give King GeorgeIII and his parlaiment the finger. To break away from the most powerful nation on earth at the time because that nation mistreated some of its citizens. On July 4, 1776 those brave founders afixed their signatures to the Declaration of Independance. Each was risking his life and property, all that he owned. If the British had won Benedict Arnold would have been a hero and George Washington would, in a line or two if mentioned, as the traitor who led the rebellion against the mother country. While it was General Washington and the continental army who stood up to the British, many civilians did too. The British would come upon a farmhouse demanding food and would get none being told that with the man away there were no crops and they had no food at all. There were also spies. A mere woman, imagine that, a woman would hear men talking and pass that along to the colonial troops. Molly Pitcher was no soldier but she took over for her fatally wounded husband to keep the artilary barage going against King George's troops. Is she really recognized for her efforts? Nope! We all envision heroic men marching off to battle the enemy some returning and others not. Do we really know what happened and what was in the minds of each of those men? General Washington nearly had to beg the men to not give up when they were camped at Valley Forge. Their enlistments were up on New Year's day and, of course, they missed their families. Some left anyway, despite the General's pleas. In the end the colonists prevailed, partially by the resolve of the people in America, partially because of the genius of George Washington's leadership, partially due to the distance of the British from their homeland, and partially due to the French fleet that scared the British into surrendering when they probably could have eventually put down the rebellion.
Sure we should honor those who have served our country, I am one, if we are going to have a holiday to honor them we have 2 already. we have Memorial day and Veterans day. Independance day is to celebrate the declaration of our independance from Great Britan, the birth of our great nation. Without that day the rest is moot.
Great posts Hershman!
My thanks to all who serve and have served to keep and hold the 4th of July to its meaning.
