Beyond “Thank You”

I don’t know of anyone who served in the Armed Forces just so they could receive thanks on Veterans Day. They chose to defend our country out of a sense of patriotism. Or duty. Or they were looking for a better life after serving. There are many reasons. I thank God they all answered the call, whatever their reason.

 My father and both of my grandfathers served. Of my seven uncles, four served. Some joined up; some were drafted. They all served honorably—from the era following the Spanish-American War through WWI, WWII, and Vietnam.

 Until we eliminated the draft after Vietnam, it was common in most families for men to serve when called. 

 Today, things look different. White males still make up approximately 56% of the military. But 18% of those who serve are women, 32% are racial or ethnic minorities, and over 6% identify as LGBTQ+. Every one of them is a volunteer. Looking at those numbers, our military now reflects a far more diverse cross-section of America.

 Of course, without a draft, much of America remains untouched by military life. Most people have no direct contact with or deep understanding of what service entails.

 We’ve largely moved past the Vietnam era when service members and veterans were reviled. When I visited New York City in 1975 as a West Point Cadet, I was spit at. Today, when people learn I served, they offer a polite thank-you. I smile and thank them back. It is certainly better than the alternative.

 I also think: thanks are fine, but when are we going to do more for our veterans? When are we going to genuinely care about veteran homelessness? When are we going to write or call our members of Congress about veterans’ healthcare and benefits?

 If you want to do more, consider supporting organizations such as the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Fisher House, or Disabled American Veterans. Volunteer at a local VA facility or support veteran-focused initiatives in your local community. And yes, contact your members of Congress.

 By all means, thank veterans—not only on Veterans Day, but every day. We owe them that. But we owe them so much more. We all need to care enough to act. Sincere gratitude requires action, not just a perfunctory gesture.