Yesterday our nation celebrated Veterans Day (not to be confused with Memorial Day, which honors the memory of those who died while serving their country.) Veterans Day honors living members of the U. S. Armed Forces who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Some businesses offer special largesse to Veterans; parades, presentations, and personal recognitions are given in many places.
Veterans Day (always November 11) officially replaced Armistice Day. Armistice Day recognized that Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. (From Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental.) “History of Veterans Day – Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs”. www.va.gov.) According to the Selective Service System, The last draft call was on December 7, 1972.
It is important to celebrate Veterans Day: It is virtually impossible to counterpoise the celebration with the incredible sacrifices these service members made. But we invite the veterans, stand with them, show them our appreciation; in some measure it lets our veterans know a grateful nation appreciates the oath they took, the efforts they made and loyalty they showed. We thank you for your service.
My small contribution to the day—but significant to me— is to call my veteran friends to thank them for their service. The list is shorter this year. My latest loss was Marine Col. Richard Baker; we were friends since our college days. He taught me the moral and covenantal authority that drives the camaraderie of military service alliance. That oath we took upon being inducted into military service is serious, and never to be taken lightly.
A good example of how seriously soldiers take their oath is found in a conversation Jesus had with a Drill Sergeant. That officer defined his concern about his desperately ill servant, and revealed his intense loyalty to authority. He knew what it means to lay one’s life on the line—well, that is it. Did you know that when service members are about to be deployed, they must have their final plans in place; Power of Attorney, a Will, etc.? That gets your attention!
Uriah was an officer in King David’s army. King David called Uriah home under the pretense of offering him connubial comfort with his wife, Bathsheba. David was hoping that Uriah’s visit would be conjugal, and said so; and hoped to cover up the reality that David had gotten Bathsheba pregnant. Uriah resisted all attempts to be sent home to his wife, saying he would sleep at the Palace gate; he could not bear to enjoy the comforts of home while his own troops were sleeping in the field, and battling the Ammonites.
Uriah’s heart for his soldiers is an icon for the loyalty our veterans lived every day they wore the uniform. Unlike David’s lechery, Uriah’s heart cared for his soldiers’ welfare. It has become a common occurrence these days to tell our service members “Thank you for your service!” Veterans Day, is a time the when we all can say “Thank you for your service!” …in a grand way.
Even though the day has passed, this year, tell a Veteran you appreciate his or her willingness to lay down his/her life for our nation. Pay it forward for a Veteran at the coffee shop. Ask about his or her service; Sit and sip together and listen—really listen—-to the story that veteran wants to tell—especially if it is an older veteran. It will excite astonishment and appreciation in that dear soul. Not many people are willing listeners to what wants to be said.
Fortunately, it seems that more attention is being focused on helping veterans open up and therapeutically share their stories. Importantly, medical science has made inroads for military openness in treating PTSD. We cannot remove their wounds, but we can show that we care. I hope that’s what we offered on Veterans Day, and will continue always to offer .