Honoring Veterans, Past And Present
by Bob Fuehne
Editor's Note: The following is a speech Bob Fuehne of Hillsboro was prepared to give at the Veterans Day ceremony scheduled for Hillsboro on Nov. 11 outdoors at the Veterans Memorial. The ceremony was rained out.
Today our nation remembers and pays tribute to those Veterans, 25 million men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States of America and have unselfishly placed their lives on the line, for our freedom. Each of these men and women took an oath to defend America, and they have upheld that oath with honor and decency.
These men and women were ordinary people until they heard the call of duty and answered it. They left families, their homes and their lives, not for recognition or fame or even for the honor we bestow on them today. They fought to protect our country and to maintain our way of life.
A simple love of our country and liberty compelled them to serve this great nation of ours. Through the generations they have humbled dictators, liberated continents and set a standard of courage and idealism for the entire world. America is blessed because these 25 million men and women realized and still realize that nothing is as important in their lives as defending our nation.
Today, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we remember the end of WWI which occurred at this very hour in 1918. This day originally chosen to honor Veterans of the "Great War" -- World War I. It was called Armistice Day and was intended to honor those who fought "The War to End All Wars".
But by the end of World War II, it was obvious this day needed to be broader than that and honor all men and women who had served in the defense of our great nation. In 1954, Congress changed the law, making Nov. 11 Veterans Day, to honor American Veterans of all wars, from the War of Independence in 1776 up to and including the Veterans of the War in the Mideast.
Today we honor all of those Veterans who have served their country honorably. They have been its sword and shield for more than two centuries across the globe, from the beaches of Normandy to the deserts of Iraq. They have defeated those who meant us harm. American Veterans showed our enemies that threatening America carries a heavy price. We are a major power in the world and stand free because of the sacrifices of many Veterans.
Sometime I think that Veterans Day doesn't get enough attention and is viewed as not being quite as important as the Fourth of July or Memorial Day. On these two days, many people get off work and can celebrate that holiday with parades and other festivities. People view Memorial Day as the official day to pay tribute to service members from various branches of the armed forces who have given their lives in the service of our great nation.
And yet this day, Veterans Day, also serves a very important purpose. It is the day we recognize not just those who have given their lives in war, but all those who have worn the uniform of the various services.
Today again, as we do on Memorial Day, we want to honor and remember the troops who left America's shores, but did not live to come back home and be thanked as Veterans. We honor the courage of those men and women who were lost in previous wars and those who died during our current struggles.
Ryan Buckley is one of those brave young men. Ryan was an intelligent young man and, while in elementary school, he was in the gifted class taught by my wife. When terrorists attacked the United States on 9/11, he knew he wanted to help protect our great country. And as we all know, he gave his life to protect us and help reduce or eliminate such future terrorists attacks.
We think of Ryan's mother, Sally and her family, and all the families who have lost a loved one and pray for their comfort. Each loss of life is heartbreaking and the best way to honor the sacrifice of the fallen troops is to complete the mission and help lay the foundation of peace for future generations.
We also want to remember the men and women in uniform whose fate is still undetermined, our prisoners of war and those missing in action. America must never forget their courage and we should not stop searching until we have accounted for every soldier, airman, sailor and Marine, still missing in the line of duty.
We also do not want to forget the Veterans of America's other War, the war that did not happen, the "Cold War" against the Soviet Union. American Veterans stood in Germany and on alert in ICBM silos and bomber bases across the United States. They were ready for World War III on a moments notice, and because of them, the enemy looked the other way and drew back, keeping an uneasy peace until Communism collapsed under its own weight.
While the Veterans of the Cold War may not have seen actual combat, it was war and we owe those Veterans a debt of gratitude for protecting us while a potential war was smoldering.
Our veterans, those who have served and the men and women who are still in the military, all come from different communities and from all walks of life. They bring these differences and strengths to the defense of our nation. Poor or wealthy, urban or rural, from an Illinois farmer to a California surfer dude, they bond together as soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines.
Where else but in America can a professional football player, such as Pat Tillman, and the son of a single mother on welfare stand and fight side by side and, if they survive the conflict, form a bond and a lifetime of friendship. We see this in the many reunions of military groups and wonder why do men who have been in war yearn to reunite.
Not to tell stories or look at old pictures. Comrades gather because they long to be with men who once acted in their very best interest, men who suffered and sacrificed together. They were put together by fate and by the military and were willing to guard something more precious than life and were ready to die for each other.
Our Veterans represent the strength and diversity of our nation and have been doing that for well over 230 years. They all have placed the nation's security before their own lives. Their sacrifice creates a debt that America can never fully repay.
As we honor our Veterans and remember their great deeds, let us also salute those who are currently fighting for our freedom. Today's military is not the militia or the Continental Army of General George Washington, protecting our nation and our freedom. It is a team of National Guardsmen, Army Reservists and active duty military personnel protecting our towns and cities. They are our first line of defense against terrorists and other threats to our livelihood.
The war on terrorism has helped us all realize how truly unique our American way of life is. The freedom we enjoy is extremely special and that is why we must defend it.
I'll never forget Sally Buckley's words on the dedication of the "Ryan Buckley Memorial Road" where she stated, and I quote part of her poem;
"Thank you God, thank you for this beautiful day
The fact that I can take my walks without feeling afraid
Shows how lucky we are, we've got it made
Do you open your eyes, do you really see
The advantages we have in this great country
I've spent most of my life taking America for granted
Oh my gosh, my freedom isn't free."
The young men and women currently stationed and fighting in Iraq need to be commended for helping the ordinary people of Iraq and working to defeat the terrorists and enemies of these people. They have helped the people by renovating and opening schools, helping to staff hospitals and, something we all take for granted, have provided safe drinking water for the first time to more than 4.5 million people. As Thomas Jefferson said, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance".
These brave young men and women are providing that vigilance as they are fighting the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are our next generation of Veterans, selfless, dedicated and deadly. They are the future of America.
All Veterans have paid with their courage and honor. They have defended America through the best and the worst of times and have performed their duties tirelessly, desiring little recognition or fanfare. Historians have said that Dwight Eisenhower was prouder of being a soldier than he was of being the president. And while few veterans have achieved the rank of general, pride in one's military service is a bond shared by all who have served.
Communities across America have recognized the value of military service honoring their heroes with parades and other types of honors. As more of our older veterans are passing away, our Honor Guard is doing military honors at their funerals and presenting an American flag to their families.
Now is the time to honor not only those who have fought or are fighting to protect our freedom, it is also time for each of us to take part in protecting it. The defense of freedom is not just for the military; each of us shares that duty and responsibility. We don't have to join the Army, Navy or Air Force or any other organization of defense to actively defend our way of life. We can protect our freedom simply by maintaining it here in America.
If we want to preserve our freedoms, we must put them into action. One example is by voting, and I hope all of you voted in our national election on Nov. 4.
Veterans Day isn't just for Veterans, it's a day for all Americans. It's a day to remember why we are and were fighting and a day for all of us to begin our journey of protecting our freedom and the freedom of future generations. Our veterans gave us an outstanding tradition of service and a great nation in which to live, we all want to keep it that way.
To paraphrase President Reagan, some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference in the world, but veterans don't have that problem.
Today we thank all generations of Veterans: Veterans who have fought to keep freedom safe in American, Veterans who have fought to extend that freedom around the world.
God bless all our military personnel and all of our Veterans and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
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