“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
-President Woodrow Wilson
Veterans Day Appreciation
Veterans Day is drawing near and I am so grateful to show my appreciation for all of those who have served and honored our country. Without our troops, safety and security would be unaffordable luxuries.
Veterans Day may be an annual holiday, but it’s something we can (and should) appreciate on a daily basis – and not take it for granted. It’s our troops that make it possible for us to have our quality of living. So many countries today are still being torn apart by war and internal conflict. However, because our military are willing to fight on our behalf, we can travel from our work to our homes or malls and grocery stores without worrying about attacks. Even if you’re struggling to find work or caught in a monotonous routine, your freedom to change and better your life is what they’re fighting for.
It’s the classic “first-world problems” joke. Those who complain about a cracked phone or being caught in traffic on a commute need only remember that there are people dying, starving, and suffering elsewhere. Our troops’ global efforts are what allow us to afford a higher quality of living.
The fact is, we are relatively fortunate to have not had a major war on American soil for almost 100 years. Of course there have been battles and deafening defeats in that time frame (Pearl Harbor and 9/11 for just two examples), but the fact that we’ve never had to fight continuously in our homes is reassuring. Our troops put their lives on the line so that we can live comfortably; peaceably.
What Veterans Day Means to Me
It’s easy to see this is a topic I care especially about; it’s in my veins and my vocation.
The owner and CEO of Concierge Care Advisors a veteran and that drives much of our ambition for getting seniors their Veterans Benefits – which are a crucial, but underused asset.
And then of course, there’s my father; a medic in the service and (later) head of the operating room at Madigan Hospital.
It is with great joy that I remember my father honoring our country. Many nights were spent with him talking about being in the military and the good it did for him. He didn’t necessarily know what trajectory it would put him on, but in hindsight, he can “connect the dots.” During a social outing off-base, he met my mother who was raised in Tacoma.
That chance encounter led to their eventual marriage and from there kids. In fact, my parents had one child a year for 10 years! Incidentally, five of those children were born in November – so I’ll let you calculate when his leave time was scheduled. After the fifth child, my father realized he needed to be home (locally) to help with the children.
While my father is no longer with us, I continue to honor him and I would like to personally thank all our troops, military families, and veterans who have served our country. It is a privilege to live in this free nation.
