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What Veterans Day Means to Me

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Published: Sep 5, 2023

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Honoring sacrifice and dedication, reflecting on service and duty, unity and shared responsibility.

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What Does an American Veteran Mean to Me?

By derek frankhouser.

American Veterans are role models to me. They make me proud of my country. They fill me with reverence. They are a source of inspiration to me. An American veteran sets an honorable example for me to follow.

A veteran creates in me pride for my country. I am proud to be a part of a country that someone would respect enough to willingly endanger their life to protect its values. These brave persons committed themselves to preserving the ideals of our country. Simply knowing of a veteran’s dedication leads me to consider how meaningful the values of our country truly are. As I come to respect these American values as much as they have, I begin to appreciate them more clearly. This appreciation for my country’s values makes me proud to be a part of it.

A veteran spurs me to have reverence. Whether they know it or not, veterans have positively affected me. Without their sacrifice, the world I know may have been drastically changed. Veterans were prepared to die for their cause. Many witnessed terrible things and endured incredibly strenuous situations. All veterans and especially the honorable persons that do not remain with us today have paid in full the high price for freedom and the life we all know in America. Considering the enormity of what veterans have accomplished brings me to greatly appreciate and admire them.

A veteran inspires me. In their days of duty, they were motivated to fight for things they held in the utmost importance. Today, I am in wonder of the dedication veterans held for their cause. This feeling of wonder drives me to apply their attitude toward their obligations to my way of life. This attitude is to work hard and to not be hindered by doing what I believe is right and true.

I consider veterans to be of the highest quality of role models. Veterans encourage me to love my country. They fill me with great respect for them. And finally, veterans inspire me to live a life dedicated to the things I believe to be right.

The Amvets  organization in Pennsylvania encouraged school students to write essays about American military veterans. The essay that follows won the first prize of $100 at Amvets Post 19 in Lancaster, PA. It was written by Derek Frankhouser, who at the time was a high school sophmore at Lancaster Christian School in that community. Derek is the grandson of Bill Frankhouser of our 603rd Squadron.

Coalition of Veterans Organizations

Leave no veteran behind.

What It Means to be a Veteran

Being a U.S. military veteran also means you were willing to fight and die in service to this country. It meant being separated from friends, family and loved ones. It meant giving up control of your life to others and having to trust your well-being to them. It meant risking life and limb and potential (permanent) injury, either to complete a mission, help your buddies fighting alongside you or just in doing what you were supposed to do. It meant you took an oath to ‘Support and Defend the Constitution of the United States’… and lived up to your part of the bargain. Since there is no longer a military draft in this country, it meant you voluntarily signed up.

Why in the hell would you or anyone volunteer for this?

Was it a deep desire to serve your country? Or was it for the benefits you were promised such as furthering or continuing your education? Maybe it was learning something new, that sounded interesting to you? Or maybe (like me) you saw no better options in your life at the time. Possibly you were done with school, or dropped out; maybe you were unemployed and the idea of free food, housing and a steady paycheck were too tempting? Probably it was all or most of these along with the promises from your recruiter which made it sound even better. Were you talked into becoming a technician, plotting safe routes or supply lines in and out for the troops? Or a pilot? Maybe you were a combat cook, figuring out how to feed your troops with dwindling supplies? Maybe you were ‘just’ a grunt. Or any one of the hundreds of other jobs, thinking you would be better off after your service, when you discharged.

Were you thinking the same way as you huddled down in your foxhole with your head between your knees, hearing the impact of bullets, or the explosions going off all around? When the overwhelming smells of blood, piss, smoke and yes fear almost knocked you out. Were your thoughts still on what you were going to do when you got out, or were they closer to if you got out of there alive? What were you thinking as you heard screams and prayers coming from the foxholes around you? It doesn’t matter! It doesn’t matter, as long as you served and served with honor. Every military job has it’s risks. What ever the reason; whatever military job you had and whether or not you served on active duty or as a reservist, whether or not you saw or were involved in any actual combat, you could have and that is what counts. As a Vietnam veteran once said, “you had your ass on the line”. Again, that is what counts. You are a military veteran, you served with honor and yes you do expect certain things for it, from your government and/or the people you helped and/or served, or just from your fellow citizens. That bargain you upheld from when you took ‘The Oath’ to when you received your honorable discharge, came with expectations by you also. In the book “Starship Troopers” by Robert Heinlein, only military veterans had earned the right to vote. As a U.S. military veteran you are not asking for that or any additional rights, but:

You expect to be respected. You don’t need to be saluted or ‘thanked for your service’ all the time, but maybe it’s nice to hear on Veteran’s or Memorial Day. You expect your veteran status to look good on a resume or application. Yes, you want to be hired or accepted based on your qualifications, but being a veteran should help, not hurt in that. You expect help if and when you need it. You helped enough people during your service (your entire country and maybe other ones as well).

Not everything in life goes perfectly or according to plan. Did your plans include marriage or starting and raising a family? Use your VA home loan to buy a house? Were you going to get that college degree and then start your chosen career? Or put the skills you learned in the military to use? Did your marriage fall apart or the career you envisioned never come to pass? Or possibly the injuries or trauma you experienced (mental or physical) catch up with you and prevent you from achieving your goals. Where did you turn for help? Friends, family or a ‘grateful’ government? Too many veterans either didn’t have these options or the help wasn’t enough and they ended up poor, hurt or for some, hungry and homeless.

That shouldn’t happen but it does! The biggest problem with not getting help is that there are so many that need help, way too many. Yes there are a lot of generous people and organizations that try; but there are never enough of them, and/or never enough money for those that need. Yes, the Government tries to help; and there are lots of dedicated government employees who try to (believe it or not), but whether it is red tape, inefficiency or lack of funding or any of myriad other reasons, government help cannot always be counted on. Too many veterans are still on the street or hurting, any help from any people or organizations is always appreciated.

by Larry Shields All rights reserved by author

What a Veteran Means to Me Essay Example

What is a veteran? The dictionary definition is a person who has served in the military, but I don’t think there is an exact definition of what a veteran is. Also, I don’t think there is any one way to perfectly describe a veteran. To me a veteran is a hero, they are someone who puts their life on the line for others. A veteran to me is an honorable, fearless, and courageous man or woman. Veterans are people who give their wholeheartedness to America no matter what the situation is. A veteran is someone who has the courage to leave their family to protect and keep the people of our country safe and free.

Without veterans, America would not be a free country. Most likely we would be ruled by someone and not have the choices we have today. Every day we have soldiers out in other countries risking their lives to keep terrorists out of America. Every veteran I have talked to, including my grandpa, has told me amazing stories about their days as a soldier. It is crazy to think about putting yourself in a veteran’s position. They have to leave their loved ones behind to do what is right for their country, and I think that is extraordinary. Way too many Americans, including myself, take what veterans have done for our country for granted.

Every single day there are men and women risking everything they have to keep the people of America, they don’t even know safe and protected, to me that is truly a veteran. Anyone who is willing to give up most of their belongings and not see their family for a long time, and to dedicate their lives to keep the country they love safe it’s amazing. For everything they have done I wish I could thank every veteran that has served for America but sadly I cannot. That is the main reason I want to be part of this laying of the wreath ceremony. This is not something you could do every day, and it would make my grandfather so ecstatic.

The Tomb of Unknown Soldiers

The saying on The Tomb of Unknown Soldiers is so upsetting to me. “HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD”. The reason this is upsetting is because of how the soldiers' families must feel. If my grandpa would have died in the Vietnam War, I would probably not be here. My whole world would be different without him. Not to know what happened to him, like the veterans’ families of the people in The Tomb of Unknown Soldiers, would kill me on the inside. I feel so bad for those people who don’t know what happened to their loved ones. I couldn’t imagine what they went through.

Veterans are extraordinary people because of how ordinary and plain they seem to be. Veterans might be somebody’s mother, daughter, brother, or uncle. They may be a father that teaches their son how to fix his car when it broke down. Or a veteran could be a child’s grandpa who turns down his hearing aids when he doesn’t want to listen to his wife. What you don’t realize is that the father’s mechanical skills came from repairing a ship’s engine for 27 hours straight during the Korean war, and the grandpa lost his hearing from gunfire in World War II.

How to Recognize a Veteran 

Not a lot of people could pick a veteran out from a crowd. They don’t walk around decked out with their medals on their necks or brag about what they have experienced. You can’t see what they’ve seen, or know what they know. All of this seems to be locked in a box somewhere inside of them, and no one is allowed to see. How, then, are we supposed to distinguish these veterans from ordinary people? How are we supposed to honor them for what they’ve accomplished for our country then? Can it be the veterans don’t expect us to recognize them for what they’ve done? Veterans could just be exceptional people who don’t seek exceptional treatment.

Look around you. Look for that ordinary person that may not be so ordinary. Look for that person who doesn’t stand out in a crowd but deserves to. Look for that selfless individual who gave more than most of us dream of giving. Recognize that person who didn’t look for recognition. You never know that mother, daughter, brother, father, grandpa, or even uncle may be a veteran, and veterans are extraordinary no matter how ordinary they appear to be.

I also want to represent the astronauts, presidents, and many other important people who are in the tomb of unknown soldiers. But, I do have questions. Do any other monuments have the marble besides The Tomb of Unknown Soldiers and the Lincoln Memorial? The tomb has been guarded 24/7 since 1937, so how do they switch out the guards? How did the guards at the tomb get chosen? I really feel like I will do good at this if you chose me.

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Students write about what veterans mean to them

SOMERSET — Isaiah Laplante earned first place in the Stephen Sypko Veterans' Day Essay Contest at Somerset Middle School while Ariana Escobar took second place and William J. Brownell was in third place.

The theme of the essay contest was "what does a veteran mean to me?" In his essay, Laplante wrote that the veterans carry the nation through the worst, go away from their families to serve the nation and have bravery in its finest form.

"From when I put my head on my pillow at night, I know that veterans are out there protecting this country," Laplante wrote in his essay. "These veterans risk their lives, their jobs, their families as their careers are on the line. This is what Veterans' Day means to me and I hope it means even more to you."

Laplante is in eighth grade at Somerset Middle School.

"I wrote about how it's not just a holiday, not just a day off," Laplante said after being informed that he was the winner of the contest. "It means that people sacrificed their lives to help our country and they put their lives on the line to help others."

Laplante received $100 for coming in first place in the essay contest. Escobar received $75 for coming in second place and Brownell received $50 for coming in third place. The cash prizes were provided by the James L. and John E. Lynch Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8500 in Somerset.

Laplante was invited to read his essay at the Veterans' Day ceremony on Friday in Somerset.

Escobar wrote in her essay about how her mother and father are veterans. She wrote that her mother is a staff sergeant and her father is injured, so he is no longer in the military.

"To me, a veteran is someone who doesn't see their family that much because of long hours and having to travel to different places for tests or deployment," Escobar wrote in her essay. "They sacrifice their time and family for us to be free and not worry about wars breaking out in our towns or city. That allows us to sleep peacefully at night."

Brownell wrote in his essay that veterans have shown true courage and desire for their country. He wrote about the wars that veterans have fought in for freedom and independence so that people are free to be who they are and be able to be whoever they want to be.

"Veterans are extremely brave people who chose to stand up for what they believe in and what they think is right," Brownell wrote in his essay. "They do what they do so that people today can live in a country with independence and freedom, which is what veterans symbolize and stand for."

The judge of the essays in the contest was Somerset Veterans' Agent Heather Cheetham.

"It was just a delight to listen to how these kids break it down," Cheetham said. "They have veterans in their families and they wrote about what it means to them. They were so well written. It's hard to choose."

The essay contest is named after a late Somerset resident who was a World War II veteran. Sypko also donated the money to purchase the World War II monument that stands in front of the Somerset Public Library with the names of every Somerset resident at the time who served in World War II.

Somerset Middle School English content coordinator Jill Dyl helped to organize the essay contest and said she was glad that Cheetham did the judging because all of the essays were so good, that it was difficult to choose the winners. She said the essays were outstanding and she is grateful the school has a great community connection with Cheetham. She said the essay contest is a great writing activity for the students.

"It's meaningful because it's real world," Dyl said.

clock This article was published more than  7 years ago

Opinion What does it mean to be a veteran?

J. Mark Jackson served in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division in the war in Afghanistan in 2009.

I was a soldier, and I went to war. By and by, I became known as a veteran. My civilian career progressed, my family grew, and the Army drifted into the gray mist of memory. But the experience of military service leaves an indelible imprint on the psyche and soul of each soldier, sailor, airman and Marine.

What does it mean, on a day-to-day basis, to be a veteran? To this Army veteran, it means:

●Advil is the narcotic of choice for a bad back and creaky knees, both earned like an invisible Purple Heart.

●Fourth of July fireworks sound surprisingly like a mortar attack.

●. . . and a nail gun sounds startlingly like the bark of an AK-47 when heard in the distance.

●Watching the evening news and feeling guilty for not being beside the soldiers fighting in the story.

●. . . but being grateful the country doesn’t still require my service, because it was always sweltering hot, and physically I could no longer keep up. This is a poignant realization for any former soldier.

●Waking up desperately searching for my rifle, while my wife softly says, “It’s all right, it’s all right; you are home.”

●Finding a lump in my throat and tears welling in my eyes when I see images of a crying mother or wife holding a flag folded into a triangle.

●Feeling slightly self-conscious at my child’s grade school on Veterans Day, but also feeling important and honored.

●Having a mother say, "Thank you for your service. Because you served, my son did not have to." Really ?

●Finding the term “hero” applied too liberally. Audie Murphy was a hero. We were soldiers.

●Wondering, when I forget how I filed my tax return the previous year, if I am suffering from a case of undiagnosed traumatic brain injury or if I just forgot.

●Wondering, when I miss words in a conversation, whether it is from hearing loss from the close rattle of a .50-caliber machine gun or if I was just not paying attention.

●Experiencing a faint gag reflex when Girl Scouts try to sell me cookies, though I loved them for sending countless boxes of cookies to the theater of war. It’s not their fault I made a pig of myself on their generosity.

●Feeling positive about the next strong and dedicated generation of future veterans to whom we handed the baton of service.

●Having a cracking, faltering voice when speaking of certain wartime events that trigger strong emotions, no matter how many times I speak of them.

●Forever being identified as a “military person” based solely on an upright posture and a shoulders-back walking gait.

●Buying a red paper poppy whenever I see another veteran selling them and calling him “brother” when the exchange is made.

●Being unable to throw those paper poppies away, ever. They seem somehow too sacred to desecrate.

●A surge of engulfing pride, like a warm shiver, when the American flag passes or during the singing of the national anthem.

●Surviving a hostile staff meeting by saying to myself, “It has all been easy since . . . ,” filling in the blank with the battle of my choice.

●Maintaining a slightly obsessed fetish with how a bed is made, with emphasis on the corners.

●Perpetual promptness. No event is too unimportant not to arrive early.

●Having a wave of emotion crash down while my son raises his right hand and swears the same oath I did a generation before.

●Desiring to be treated like everyone else — unless I’m waiting in a long line at an airport or praying for an upgrade to first class on a flight. Then I prefer to be treated as special.

●Sitting slack-jawed in amazement when I realize my family’s dinner was purchased by a table of teenage girls sitting across the restaurant. Thank you!

●Critiquing any marching organization during a parade and resisting the urge to cry out, “left, left, left, right-ta, left” if it is out of step.

●Gladly deferring saber-rattling to those who have never had to do it.

●No longer feeling compelled to prove my mettle — that urge was settled and sated while wearing a uniform.

●Grasping the knowledge that peace is eminently more precious than any state of war, regardless of the justification. Veterans know the cost of peace firsthand, and that cost has a first name, a last name, a middle initial and parents.

Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said of his Civil War service, “In our youth our hearts were touched with fire.” I would add devotion, exhilaration, camaraderie and fear. Our service in the armed forces determined who we were and continues to define who we are moving into the future. My father said about events in his life that “I wouldn’t give a penny to do it again, but I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the experience.” Would most veterans say the same about their service? I believe so; I know I do. Further, and more important, I consider it my honor to have served our country.

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How To Write Papers About Veterans

Academic writing

Essay paper writing

Nowadays, there are many important topics that need to be discussed. The world is full of events, and some of them change our lives in the most unpredictable and terrifying way. War is the most terrible expression of human nature. All attempts are useless when it comes to explaining how people managed to conquer the oceans, mountains, and space but still haven’t evolved enough to understand how senseless the war is.

Nevertheless, there were always people who fought for peace. Veterans have changed and defined the world we live in. Undoubtedly, they need to be respected and remembered, and that is why essays about veterans are written in schools and universities. In this article, we will describe how to compose essays about veterans and emphasize the importance of remembering the atrocities of wars.

Best veterans essay topics

There are various veterans essays on bravery and sacrifices, and while you might choose a similar topic, there is a wide variety of options that you might want to check before you do. Here is our top pick of war and veterans day essay ideas:

• Essay about homeless veterans and HUD-VASH
• Act of bravery essay
• Essay on homeless veterans and PTSD
• Veterans day essays
• Essay on courage and bravery
• What does veterans day mean to me essay  
• Honor definition essay
• Honoring veterans essay
• What is a veteran essay
• Essay about war veterans
• Essay about making sacrifices
• Essay about appreciating vets
• Everyday heroes essay
• Life of a soldier essay
• Navy core values essay 
• What it means to be a veteran and what Veterans Day means to me essay
• What they fought for essay

Good argumentative essay topics about veterans

Argumentative essay is one of the most frequently assigned tasks in schools and universities. Besides, it is also among the most interesting ones. That is why we decided to present some interesting argumentative essay topics about veterans:

• Why do we celebrate Veterans Day essay
• Why are veterans important essay
• What makes someone a hero essay
• Why is it important to remember war deeds?
• Is US government doing enough for the war heroes?
• Why many veterans end up homeless?
• Should screening for PTSD and mental disorders be mandatory for veterans?

Tips for Writing Essays About War

When writing veterans day papers and about war in general, it is important to remember a few simple tips:

• Mind the style . The essay writing style should be semi-formal or formal. Do not use slang and word abbreviations, for example, instead of can’t write cannot, instead of wanna - want to, etc.
• Stay polite. As you might have to talk about politics, religion, death, and other controversial topics, it is important to stay objective. Do not use hate speech and fact-check any information that you plan on including.
• Use abbreviations carefully. There are a lot of abbreviations used in the military sphere. Before using an abbreviated version, be sure to write down a full one for readers to understand you better.
• Leave some time for proofreading your paper . Manage your time in such a way that at the end of the day, you will have some time to reread your essay and correct the mistakes and typos.
• Read some veterans day essays examples. These essays may inspire you to write your own or give you a better understanding of how to do it. Search for samples on a few specific topics, such as veterans and PTSD or memorial day essay examples to see the variety of arguments that can be presented in the paper. However, never plagiarize any of these texts because you will receive a 0 on your assignment.

Veterans research paper topics

• Research paper on veterans’ rights
• Homeless veterans research paper
• The post-traumatic stress disorder in the soldiers of the Iraq war
• Programs for veterans in the US
• Veterans employability in the United States
• Women veterans and PTSD
• Affordable housing for veterans in the US
• Long-term psychological effects of wars on veterans
• High rate of suicide among Vietnam veterans
• Study of mental problems of veterans in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder scholarly articles

Writing Research Papers on Veterans

• Choose the topic of interest . This advice seems obvious, but it is really important to stick to it. If you conduct research on a topic that you really like, you will be more likely to create a decent paper and finish it faster.
• Use only credible sources. Evaluate the credibility of the materials you find, especially online. Remember that Wiki-type websites, blogs, and forums are not the most reliable sources of information. Stick to scholarly sources such as books and journal articles instead.
• Check your sources. War is difficult subject, and it is easy to manipulate the audience and distort facts to evoke certain emotions in readers when talking about it. Check the background of authors and read their texts carefully to make sure they are trying to be unbiased.
• Do not be afraid to ask for help. Your professor and, most likely, some of your friends, will be able to help you on different stages of the assignment completion. If you are not sure your topic is suitable, run it by your professor before you start working on the paper. When you finish writing, ask your friends to read your text to see if it makes sense.

Interesting Facts for Veterans Day Papers

Story of Chris Kyle

• In February 2013, in the district of Erat, Texas, more than 30 thousand people came to say goodbye to the national hero of America, military sniper Chris Kyle. He took part in the military operation in Iraq and became the most effective shooter in the history of the US Army. He had more than 150 confirmed murders on his account.
• A reward of $20,000 was offered for Kyle’s head in Iraq. However, he died four years after the demobilization. The sniper was shot by another veteran of Afghanistan, whom Kyle tried help with PTSD.
• Kyle became a national hero. A movie about his life was released at the end of 2014, grossed $ 280 million, and was nominated for six awards in the American Film Academy.
• Nowadays, there are more than 1.5 million American veterans. About 20% of them were shell-shocked, 50% were injured by bomb explosions, and 73% suffered PTSD.

Job search and rehabilitation

• For several years, the US managed to build an effective system for the rehabilitation of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. At the same time, the state essentially refused public donations.
• The US economy is not able to provide jobs for all those who returned from the war. And according to the US Department of Defense, 57% of people who have gone through military operations cannot normally continue to serve. It’s not just about physical injuries - most of them are not ready for a new war psychologically. However, it is also hard for them to get back to the “normal” life.

Homelessness

• According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development of the United States, as of January 2016, there were more than 13,000 veterans who were forced to live regularly on the streets. About 40 thousand at the same time noted that they had to spend at least one night on the street because of the lack of overnight accommodation.
• On August 1, 2016, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Veterans Affairs Department, and the Interdepartmental Council for Homeless Affairs noted that this indicator decreased by 47% since 2010. Representatives of the White House also stressed that from January 2015 to January 2020, the number of homeless veterans decreased by 17%.
• American soldiers replenish the ranks of the homeless. The commercials of the American army promise life full of adventures, career growth, and even American citizenship. It sounds tempting, but recruiters don’t always tell the whole truth about what awaits new soldiers on the battlefield and what they can expect after military service.

Veterans day speech ideas

• Why we need to remember wars and veterans
• Society without wars is a utopic idea
• My father (or any other relative) is a war hero
• Why veterans are our asset
• ‘In valor there is hope’
• While we were sleeping peaceably in our beds…
• Why Veterans Day is so special to me
• We can do more for the veterans

When is Veterans Day Celebrated?

On November 11, the United States celebrates Veterans Day. This date was the day of the end of the First World War for the States, after the signing of the Compiegne Armistice in 1918. The United States took an active part in the military and political actions of this war on the side of the Entente. In total, the First World War lasted more than 4 years, with 38 countries involved. The number of deaths, according to official records, exceeds 10 million people.

Veterans’ Lives in Different Countries of the World

Have you ever thought how veterans of the Second World War live in different countries?

• Wehrmacht veterans are provided with comfortable and high-level social protection. Depending on the rank and merit, they receive a decent pension.
• It is interesting that veterans of other countries who were seized during war and are still living in Germany have the right for a pension as well as social security benefits. Veterans of war can count on a free two-time hospitalization a year, and if it comes to the prisoners of war, the number of hospitalizations is unlimited.
• The size of the pension for veterans of the Second World War in the UK directly depends on the military rank and severity of injuries. Monthly payments fluctuate between 2000 and 9000 euros.
• American participants in the Second World War are honored twice a year by the US authorities. Fallen soldiers are remembered on Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May, and veterans are honored on November 11 at Veterans’ Day.
• American veterans get an extra $1200 to their pension, which, on average, is $1500. Second World War soldiers in the United States are supervised by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, which manages 175 hospitals, hundreds of nursing homes, and thousands of district clinics. If the illness or disability of a veteran is a consequence of military service, the state covers all costs for their treatment.
• The number of veterans of the Second World War in France is about 800 thousand people: 500 thousand of them are former military men, 200 thousand are members of the Resistance, and 100 thousand were deported to Germany. 

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"What Does a Veteran Mean to Me?" Essay Contest - O'Fallon Matters

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LowVARates.com is not affiliated with any government agencies, including the VA, FHA, or the HUD. VA lender ID #9797520000. Not intended for Washington state residents.

What It Means to Be a Veteran

I have watched many veterans over the years come back from Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries with some welcoming and others shunning them. We have so many freedoms in this country. Even just the freedom to voice our opinion is incredible and not something that everyone in the world possesses.

Where did that freedom come from? It wasn’t just a given. These freedoms were earned many years ago, not given. It was not earned by you or I but by men and women hundreds of years ago who we have only read about in history books. Do you think anybody in the colonies were running their mouths or writing about how they were against the war when the soldiers came back from fighting? I can bet you it is a no. You know why? Because they had pride in their country and their freedoms, not only what had been earned through the sacrifice of many lives but also those that have been earned with time. Over the years, we have taken the freedoms we have for granted and the veterans who have stood up and protected them.

The 1 Percent

The military is made up of less than 1 percent of our population. That means less than 1 percent of the people who live in the United States continuously earn and protect our freedom. You do realize if it was not for our veterans and our military, things like 9/11 would happen more often. You can simply take a trip to Afghanistan, Iraq, or Pakistan (just to name a few) and see how those people live in fear of a terrorist attack, and they live without any of the freedoms we have and take for granted today.

As a veteran, you should not have trouble calling yourself a veteran. Be proud of what you do and what you have done to protect and earn our freedom with your service. You’re one of the few, the 1 percent. But this doesn’t mean anybody owes you anything. I have told my soldiers for years that just because you went to war doesn’t mean anybody owes you a job or a rose parade or even dinner! If you want to earn the respect of civilians, then first look for companies that hold events for veterans and appreciate them. Then go by and say thank you or write them a letter of appreciation. There are many companies out there that cater to veterans for employment, so you should try and work for them and then participate in the events they provide. Low VA Rates specializes in loans for veterans, and they are constantly finding new ways to serve the veteran community. You should always thank other veterans and remember that you’re one to. I have never had a problem calling myself a veteran nor have I been ashamed or embarrassed that I am in the Army. You shouldn’t either.

The Image of the Military and Veterans

The perception of the military changes daily for the better and many people are thankful for this simple fact. As veterans and military service members, we have an image to protect and it only takes one to ruin it. When you decide to do something stupid (usually centered around drinking) then you are ruining it for us all. Protect our image the same as you have protected our freedom. We always will share a greater bond with anybody we deployed with over anybody we play basketball with on Tuesday nights. When you are out or even at home, remember that we are all the same. We are veterans! This comes with a sense of pride and professionalism. Therefore, conduct yourself as such and our opportunities will become greater. The public will see us as true professionals and the people they look up to. Believe me, when something bad happens, they’re going to look to you for guidance and help. This is what it means to be a veteran.

When a civilian thanks you for your service, politely say “my pleasure and thank you for your appreciation.” What you have done and the sacrifices you have made are tremendous. What does it mean to be a veteran? It means you’re the 1 percent that had the courage and honor to stand up and say, “I will defend my country against all enemies foreign and domestic.” Be proud of your service and don’t lie about it. Thank the people who thank and support you.

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What Does Veterans Day Mean to You?

The vfw asks all americans find a veteran and listen to their story.

WASHINGTON — For the members the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), as well as the millions of others who have worn the cloth of our military, all veterans share a common bond. At one time in their lives, they raised their right hand and solemnly swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” No matter if they served for two years or 42 years, all veterans sacrificed something to serve their country, and if called upon, to lay down their lives in defense of it. Every one of them have a story to tell. However, those who have served only make up roughly one percent of our nation’s population, and with the end of our nation’s longest war and the veteran population dwindling, it’s important to remember why we have Veterans Day in the first place. 

Veterans Day is an opportunity to publicly commemorate the contributions of living veterans and to show appreciation toward them. But beyond the free meals, discounts, tributes, and platitudes given to veterans on this day, there is also an opportunity to truly show them your appreciation. If you find a veteran, ask them a few questions. Ask them when they served, where they served, what branch did they serve in, what did they do while they served, what was it like to serve, and finally, why did they serve. Listen to their story and then you will truly know about the service you are thanking them for. It will make all the difference to them and might give you a greater appreciation for our veterans and the freedoms they ensured we can all enjoy. 

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Veterans share importance of giving your life for the freedom of others

H UNTINGTON, WV (WOWK) – The question ‘What does it mean to put your life on the line for others?’ is something that generations of veterans have had to answer. For many veterans, especially those who lose friends or family members, Memorial Day is about so much more than 24 hours of recognition.

“All those that passed away in combat, men and women, and we’re honoring them today. If everything we enjoy in life – religious beliefs, our education, all that – it’s due to their sacrifice. We wouldn’t be able to enjoy anything if it weren’t for our veterans,” Marine Corps veteran and past commandant of the Hershel “Woody” Williams detachment Rich Shank said. “It takes a special person to sign off on that, and we thank every one of them. Every time you see a veteran, thank them.”

Paul Davis, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is an 80-year-old who comes from a long generation of veterans. However, his family also knows the personal feeling of losing someone at war.

“Through my history, three of my great grandfathers was in the battle of Point Pleasant,” Davis said. “My great uncle was killed at the battle of Winchester in a gray uniform… None of us have been afraid to serve, and it’s just a thing that my family was proud of.”

During Huntington’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Memorial Arch on Monday, Davis was one of many who lifted up and carried a memorial wreath to the arch. To him, that has a lot of personal meaning.

“It means you got to remember,” Davis said. “Too many times, see I help set up the honor guard down at Post 93. I’ve been to a lot of military funerals, and a lot of them are friends of mine. It’s just hard to remember.”

Other veterans relate to this experience of having loved and lost too many people.

Fred Buchanan, the Chairman of the Veterans Committee for Civic Improvement and part of American Legion Post 16, said, “They went before us. They laid the groundwork for us to be Americans and to serve those of us who are fortunate enough to serve our country and come home.”

Dan Ferguson, the chairman of the Hershel “Woody” Williams Gold Star Families Memorial Project, served in Vietnam with the Coast Guard. He’s also processed that grief.

“I had some friends back in Vietnam that went to Vietnam and didn’t come back. I did,” Ferguson said. “There was a few friends, and it’s touching. You never forget. I remember them, I remember the times we had together before they had to leave for the war.”

That experience affects everyone a little differently, but it also unifies civilians and veterans on days like Memorial Day to remind everyone that freedom is earned not given.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOWK 13 News.

Watch our Memorial Day tribute to the military who sacrificed all to serve their country

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. It's a time to gather with friends and family for a grill out, a picnic, or maybe a trip to the beach to soak up the sun. But while it may well feel like a day of celebration, what sometimes gets forgotten is that it was conceived as a day of commemoration for the brave military members who died serving their country.  

A University of Phoenix survey found that less than half of Americans polled knew the exact purpose of Memorial Day, while around a third were unsure of the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

To clarify, Veterans Day, which takes place in November, is a tribute to all those who served honorably in the military in wartime or peacetime, whether living or dead.

The confusion is compounded by Armed Forces Day, a military celebration held in May for those currently serving. However, while the reasons differ, the sentiment of each day is the same: all three are important opportunities to show gratitude.

So, when you chow down on that hot dog, barrel down that slip 'n slide, or whatever you do for fun this Memorial Day, spare a moment to acknowledge the people in uniform whose sacrifice made a difference.

On this Memorial Day, watch the video for a surprise reunion of battle buddies bonded by the loss of their leade r

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