It seems appropriate somehow that we honor our America’s military veterans just a few days after the year’s biggest election day, especially with the growing animosity that increasingly characterizes our election campaigns and political debate in general. Honoring the service of those who invested a significant part of their lives — and were willing to lose their lives entirely — reminds us that our country as a whole matters more than the platforms of any single political party.
The coincidence of dates is just that — a coincidence. President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 signed legislation officially creating Veterans Day, which already was being celebrated in conjunction with Armistice Day celebrating the end of World War I, which took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Elections have been held in November since our nation’s first days; the date was convenient as it came during a relatively free time before most harvests but before harsh winter weather had arrived.
In other aspects, however, the two events couldn’t be more different. Political campaigns are by definition adversarial, with people competing for the same elected position. That competition has become increasingly harsh, even ugly, in recent years.
Those who have served our country on the fields of battle, or the lucky ones who never had to see the horrors of war, pledged their lives in the defense of all Americans, regardless of political party, lifestyle or personal preference. They have been willing to give the ultimate sacrifice not only for their own families and loved ones but for the millions more whom they don’t even know and will never meet.
In the wake of the nastiness and discord that came to the fore in all too many of our political campaigns, Veterans Day gives us pause to remember the commonness of being American transcends any personal leanings, that it behooves us to hope for, and to seek, the betterment of all of our compatriots, whether we agree with them or not.
Obviously, our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines hold different view themselves; some are conservative and others liberal. They attend different churches or none at all. And yet they are united in one goal: protecting the people and interests of all American people, both at home and abroad.
Indeed, our enlisted personnel embody the true America, an amalgam of people of different backgrounds, ethnicities and social groups. They represent all economic and educational levels, and might even give different reasons for having decided to serve our country through military service.
And so, after celebrating victories or licking our political wounds in the wake of the Election Day results, may our celebration of Veterans Day and the willingness of so many of our fellow Americans to defend our lives, our futures and our beliefs, whatever they are, inspire us all to recognize that despite our differences we are all Americans, and in our own way hoping that our actions and decisions today will help us forge a better tomorrow.
The veterans we celebrate today have helped maintain our freedom to do so.
