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Anatomy of the administrative claims process for service connected disability
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What were they fighting for? Have we honored their work?
On Veterans Day, every one of
us ought to think about what our war veterans fought for, and whether we
have honored their sacrifice with the way we live our lives.
Like millions of other Americans, my father was in World War II. He
sat in Iceland for two lonely years before moving into continental Europe
for the Battle of the Bulge and countless smaller battles until the Nazis
surrendered.
My uncle served on the Battleship New Jersey, surviving typhoons and
dodging kamikazes as the ship's big guns pounded the enemy on island after
island. He was in Tokyo shortly after two atom bombs brought the war to an
end.
What were they fighting for? Have we honored their work?
They were fighting for democracy and freedom, certainly. They were
fighting for their nation's survival. And as many point out, they
were fighting for their buddies and for themselves.
But as they dreamed of post-war peace, what did that dream look like?
Judging from what my father and my uncle made of their lives, I'd guess
each of them dreamed of finding a good woman and raising a happy family in
a land that let children play free of fear and allowed grown-ups to make
an honest living on their skills, education and hard work.
When I look at America today, I wonder if the World War II veterans think
they live in the country they dreamed of and fought for. When they
invaded Omaha Beach or Anzio or Iwo Jima, did they imagine peace would
look like this?
They fought for an America where the people were free to say just about
anything they wanted, short of a threat, and free to do just about
anything they wanted, short of hurting others. They fought for a country
of open minds and generous hearts. And they won the war.
Thanks to them, Americans even have the right to be rude. But many
of us forget that, in our words and actions, we also have a
responsibility to care for others' rights and feelings. Too many of
us have taken the right to be rude as an obligation, and too often we have
seen selfishness, abuse and cruelty as a result.
We have the right to live our lives pretty much as we choose, but have we
honored veterans with our choices? Have we done all we can to keep
America a land of happy childhoods and fulfilling lives?
The world might have fewer challenges to freedom if we enjoyed our liberty
more wisely. Have we done our part to show the world that freedom
works?
Our veterans have given us Americans more freedom than the world has ever
known. What have we done with their gift?
By Frank Warner
The author's father, Army veteran Thomas E. Warner, is 81 and lives in Stowe, Pennsylvania.
The author's uncle, Navy veteran John B. Dorsey, lives in Bangor, Pennsylvania.
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