Veterans Day Essay

“American democracy,” journalist Bill Moyers wrote, “has always been a series of narrow escapes.” It is often our military men and women who turn the tide in these close calls. For this reason, it is impossible to cram the many benefits our vets have bestowed upon today’s youth into a single essay, and foolish to try. The legacy of our veterans includes the defeat of totalitarian governments, the spreading of liberty, the protection of American democracy, and the defense of American lives. These are not themes which can be summed up simply. As the philosopher and scientist sir Isaac Newton pointed out, we stand on the shoulders of giants. In the case of American history, those giants have often worn uniforms. However, there is one role a veteran plays which is often overlooked. This is the role of teacher.

We can learn a great deal from those who have served our country. Veterans can teach us by their example things like comradeship, discipline, determination, courage, and fortitude. We can learn from them the true meaning of “patriotism.” We can learn the value of sacrifice and how putting a cause before ourselves is often its own reward. Perhaps the most important lessons veterans can teach today’s youth are the sanctity of life and the importance of citizenship. After all, who knows how precious life is better than those who have faced death? Who can speak with more authority about citizenship than those who have sacrificed for their country?

More Americans should know just how precious life is, for many of us seem to live in a state of television-induced apathy. We tend to forget our history, and suffer the consequences for our carelessness. We ignore the plight of innocent people, and allow our hearts to harden. We forgive the improprieties of our elected officials, and allow them to carry on with their misdeeds. Many citizens seem content to forego their right to be active members of our political process. These lethargic citizens should take time to sit down with those who have fought for our country. It is hard to allow oneself to remain sluggish when confronted with the stories of those who have seen distant battlefields, served in difficult campaigns and witnessed blood spilled as payment for democracy. Refusal to become active citizens is no way to show gratitude for the sacrifices made in our honor.

From our vets we should learn this most important lesson: all life is sacred, and every citizen is important. One of my favorite New Testament verses is James 2:20. “Faith without works is dead.” The same could be said of democracy. As long as we have our veterans, men and women we can learn from and depend on, then those who are concerned for the fate of our democracy may rest a little more soundly. It is their works which have perpetuated America’s standards of freedom and equality throughout the ages. We should not ask how the sacrifice of these vets has benefited us, but rather, we should ask whether we are learning from their lessons.