Invisible Veterans

It is the week of Veteran’s day, a time to remember those who have served this country, and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.  It is a very important day, a day that should not be ignored or trumped by sales ads.  I believe we should teach our children about the sacrifices veterans have made so that they can have the life they live. They are the reason that we live in the best country in the world, I don’t care about political issues blah, blah, blah…we do live in the best country in the world!  (I’ll explain how I know that later.)

But there are veterans that I feel do not get the attention that they deserve, invisible veterans. Men/ Women who came home after serving and went back to their regular lives.  These are veterans who may not talk a lot about their service, and it may not be due to seeing terrible and horrific events in war.  It may simply be that they can not find the words to describe what they saw.  Or they try to tell others, but the words sound hollow and small compared to how it felt.  And frankly war is hell, and there is no reason that any one should know what it looked like or how it felt if they were not there.  The problem with this though, is that we don’t know what the cost of war is-we are going to repeat war over and over again.   

Showing off my new sergeant strips!  Oh the memories!  

 Veterans have gone to school, gotten married and started a family, or even furthered their military career.  This means veterans are in every sector of the civilian world.  And this makes our world a better place, when they share their talents and abilities with others.  I think mostly it is a veterans ability to remain calm, in most situations, that help them, trust me; they have probably seen some pretty crazy stuff. 

So what is the take home lesson here?  Men/Women veteran or not, this week try to give grace and love to everyone.  You don’t know the battles someone fights everyday, and not all scars are visible. And every veteran can appreciate a little peace. 

Finally, why do we have the best country in the world?  Well I am a veteran, and I’ve traveled this world a couple times.  And although there are great places to visit around the world, this is the best place to live, with the most freedoms available.  Freedoms to say and do things a lot of other countries can not do.  And although we are not perfect, and personally, I feel we are going through a troubling time-we are the best country in the world!  And if you don’t believe that, you have the freedom to leave.    

Waiting for convoy security to escort us "home" to a base in Mosul.