Today is November 11, veterans’ day. As a veteran, I can tell you that I don’t need or want a holiday to honor what I did. I don’t even stand when places ask us to. My wife doesn’t understand why. I just don’t think that I did anything special. If you want to honor someone for their service, please wait for Memorial day.
Categories: Glory DaysMilitary
7 Comments
Porkypine · November 11, 2021 at 12:57 pm
Armed Forces Day is to honor the active duty troops, who do technically get an entire week as AFD is part of Armed Forces Week.
Veterans Day is to honor those of us who got to come home.
Memorial Day is to honor the ones who didn’t get to come home.
Take note that the active duty folks don’t get a federal holiday but the veterans & KIA/MIA do.
I do find value in all three & personally I’m thankful that our congresscritters of an age past created these holidays whether their motivation to do so was due to altruism towards those who served or self-serving cynical pandering for votes. Either way we at least have some acknowledgement that our time spent in uniform mattered & contributed towards something that was ostensibly bigger than ourselves.
Most of the vets I know, myself included, will agree with you that their service wasn’t anything special, they just did their duty for their country. I’ll still take the day even if all I do with it is stay home & make googley eyes at The Dear Wife.
It’s up to you as an individual whether you want to “celebrate” these days or not. I agree that of the three Memorial Day is the one that matters the most & should be the day that we all take time to honor our fellow countrymen who’s lives were cut short.
Iwoots · November 11, 2021 at 1:35 pm
As a peace-time veteran, I understand the sentiment.
A long time ago, in church on Sunday morning during Memorial Day weekend, the pastor walked up while I (U.S. Navy) was talking to a friend (Marine Corps). The pastor said to us, “Thank you for your service.” I replied “Jim & I get Veteran’s Day. Memorial Day is for those who didn’t come home.”
Will · November 11, 2021 at 2:12 pm
Well, thanks anyway.
CelticGirl424 · November 11, 2021 at 6:48 pm
Typical Veteran sentiment.
You DO deserve thanks. You served our country and considered it your duty to do so and do so honorably. Sadly – not all US citizens do.
So, whether you think you deserve it or not – I thank you, and ALL Veterans for your service.
Tennessee Budd · November 11, 2021 at 9:19 pm
I agree and understand. I enlisted to do a job, and did, and I received valuable training that made my civilian career possible. That was part of the deal, & the payment was serving for a defined time.
I had some great times, and some shitty times, but that’s true in any job one stays with for several years. Military service means some of it was more weird than most folks get, but I think that a feature, not a bug.
--jim · November 12, 2021 at 12:43 am
Veterans Day and Memorial Day are distinctly different
You stood up – signed up – and completed your obligation in a way I could not
And you were able to come home
The core of the designation for Veterans Day
Thank you and all of those who were so inclined
millerized · November 12, 2021 at 9:49 am
I have yet to use a ‘benefit’ from my service, other than ‘growing the fuck up’ that I earned every bit of. I’ve paid back my .mil service as it counted towards retirement. VA loan? Nope. Free meal, discount, lower rates on my car insurance? Nope. I did what I thought was right, I don’t need coddled because of it. “Thank you for your service”….’Why didn’t you serve’ is the only response I give. Those excuses say an awful lot about society, and it ain’t good.
I’ll be terminated her shortly after 33+yrs, and little good that .mil service will do me with my .gov service as a whole. So, at 56yrs old, I get to start all over again. I’m sure those .vet bennies are gonna kick in reaaaaal soon.
I’m just going to be over here loading mags and updating my 5517’s for any new obstacles.
Comments are closed.