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“Who fights for Freedom, goes with joyful tread.” This line from a poem by Joyce Kilmer, who was himself an American soldier, is a fitting tribute to the many brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines throughout U.S. history on this Veterans Day.
Veterans Day, which was originally established as Armistice Day (hence Nov. 11, which in 1918 was the day the armistice was signed) to honor WWI veterans, was expanded after WWII and the Korean War to honor all U.S. veterans. Today we can remember and pay tribute to those who have died, but the focus is on veterans who are still alive, who sacrificed for liberty and deserve our thanks and admiration.
Kilmer wrote of the American soldier, “Upon his will he binds a radiant chain, / For Freedom’s sake he is no longer free.” Freedom comes at a price, and our veterans have paid it. Today I personally would like to thank my own grandparents, parents, great-uncles, uncles, and siblings who have served or are serving currently in multiple branches of America’s armed forces.
Vietnam veterans were lied about and badly treated when they returned, and even now there is not quite the widespread celebration of military courage that there was for WWI and WWII vets.
