Veterans Day 2009

When we are at war, America spends billions on
missiles, tanks, attack helicopters and such.
But the wounded warriors who will
never fight again tend to be put on the back burner
--Max Cleland, The Forever War of the Mind

We leave you our deaths.
Give them their meaning
--The Dead Young Soldiers,
Archibald MacLeish
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Ranger knows a tad about about Veterans Day and would like to share some personal reactions to the event.

Living life without cable t.v., he is only exposed to it while in public spaces, and a doctor's appointment brought him face-to-face with CNN's coverage of our great national patriotic fervor. It might even warm the heartstrings, if one could see behind the rhetoric.

While the concept of Veterans day is laudable, in truth every day is Veterans Day, though some do not see it. One day of shallow lip service is almost an embarrassment and insult to our service. Ranger is less than impressed by the utterings of the President; simply being able to render a solemn hand salute over dead bodies draped in flags does not a Commander-in-Chief make.

What has happened to society that we allow draft dodgers, drug users and "reformed" alcoholics to assume the mantle of the presidency, thereby becoming C-in-C? Why are such individuals even allowed to preside over Veterans Day services? What right have they to praise our service when they never felt the obligation to serve this nation as warriors?

The last three U.S. presidents think that being a C-in-C is about glad-handing and slapping veterans on the back and stroking us with speeches at the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War and Disabled American Veterans conventions. And we vets lap it up like hungry puppies, bought off with cheap words of praise.

Ranger is confused by the words and actions on days like Veterans Day. Everybody loves us vets, yet nobody is willing to give us a store discount, nor do the states give us a special price at State Parks or state-run hotels. Ditto federal facilities. The thanks doesn't translate.

The only place we are in the front of the line is at homeless shelters, prisons and employment agencies. The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that 25% of the homeless in America are veterans, though they constitute only 11% of the population (Veterans Make Up 1 in 4 Homeless.)

Words of praise from non-military politicians is an insult. You can keep your words.

Ranger prefers real action rather than fanciful ego strokes.