Photo by Brett Sayles: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-standing-on-stage-facing-an-american-flag-1340504/
We hear it proclaimed in patriotic slogans: America, the “Home of the free, because of the brave.” But who are these “brave” who have secured and defended the land we call home? They are our veterans, to whom we owe not only an unpayable debt and the highest level of respect, but also whose importance reaches back through our past and leads us into the future. From the first patriots, who fought valiantly for freedom and liberty, to the veterans of the modern day. These selfless and brave individuals defended the United States and have performed countless acts of service throughout the world. Veterans’ acts of courage have buoyed our nation forward. As defenders of American freedom and democracy, our veterans exemplify a life of higher purpose and American ideals.
The courage of veterans throughout history has provided the blanket of freedom under which we live. Had the Minutemen at the bridge in Lexington decided to turn back, had fathers and brothers decided not to leave their homes to stand against the greatest military power in the world, had George Washington and his men decided the snow was too deep and the cost too great, perhaps the United States would never have existed. We would not know government for the people, by the people. We would not know of the Bill of Rights, nor the freedom to pursue happiness and fulfill our dreams without government interference. Veterans secured the independence of their young nation, kept the embattled flag waving at Fort McHenry in 1814, and remained by her side through a Civil War that threatened to tear our country apart. From the early days of independence to fighting back against cowardly acts of terrorism on our own soil, veterans have stood ready to defend and protect the United States of America.
Not only are veterans responsible for the protection of the United States, but they have also defended freedom and democracy throughout the world. In August 1940, as World War II raged on, Winston Churchill proclaimed, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”. Again, our veterans came to the rescue as the United States military helped secure a victory for the Allies over Germany, Italy, and Japan during a war that threatened the lives and freedom of people around the world. Our veterans have intervened in areas oppressed by dictators, helped provide life-saving provisions and medical care for poor and diseased populations, and fought to protect human rights in nations around the world. Without U.S. veterans, the already ragged course of world history could be tragically different.
Perhaps most importantly, the character of veterans acts as a guideline on how to preserve our country for the future. Veterans serve as inspiring examples of how to live in a way that prospers our country and improves the world. Serving with honor, veterans have shown us how to be courageous in the face of adversity. Their examples embolden us to meet today’s challenges with the determination to do what needs to be done for ourselves, our neighbors, and our country. They show others how to stand up against evil, how to serve one another, and how to dedicate oneself to principles of honor and loyalty.
Veterans demonstrate a genuine love of their country that encourages us to lift our country up instead of tearing it down. They stand up for what they believe in and never quit, showing hard work and perseverance through difficult times. President Calvin Coolidge understood the significance of veterans to the continuation of the United States. Coolidge said, “a nation who forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.” Forgetting our veterans means forgetting what is important. We can never forget the extraordinary achievements of our veterans, or else we will forget what it takes to maintain our freedom. As citizens of what is arguably the most marvelous nation on Earth, we cannot forget to be grateful for our lives, or overlook the truly great people that walk among us. Veterans connect us to the values that have shaped this country and should not be taken for granted. They have served, protected, and defended the United States, and we should remember their importance every day.
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