They Deserve Our Respect

With Memorial Day around the corner, I ask you. “Would you leave your family and go off to a foreign land fighting for your country, knowing that you might not return”? If you have, I applaud you, bestowing upon you my highest praise. I don’t think many of us, me included, would be brave enough to do that. It irks me when people don’t respect our veterans. They are a special class of heroes, the bravest of the brave. And it breaks my heart when they return from war and do not get the care that they need from our government.

My father fought in WWII. Tom Brokaw called this generation the “greatest generation” when he wrote in his book, “I believe they are the greatest generation any society has ever produced.” He argued that these men and women fought not for fame and recognition, but because it was the “right thing to do.”

I argue that there were many other brave generations. My generation, the Viet Nam War Era, had its share of war heroes. Sadly, many of these heroes were not honored when they returned home. Instead they faced a strong antiwar movement mocking them. It was shameful how these men and women were treated when they put their life on the line for the very freedoms we all enjoy. Many have not recovered from it to this day.

Today’s young soldiers fight the evils of terrorism head on. They battle the forces of good and evil just as bravely as the generations of the past. When people don’t respect them it irks me. These young men and women are someone’s grandchild fighting for all of us seniors.

In their honor, let’s all come together as one nation and show our patriotism on Memorial. Proudly fly the flag, put flowers on graves, and solemnly celebrate what the day is all about.