When I went to Viet Nam over forty years ago, the
military draft had just ended and the all-volunteer force was implemented (and
is still in effect).
The practical result is that many of my generation are
veterans (Bill Clinton is among the notorious exceptions) whereas few members
of the following generations are.
For my compatriots and me, Memorial Day has real
meaning. And for those who served in
combat, the meaning has a strong emotional component as well. We remember.
We survived. Some of our comrades
did not.
Most veterans I know are proud that they served. And we have, as a result, a special loyalty
to our country. We veterans have made investments
in her, if you will, that our fellow citizens have not. And too many do not understand.
Perhaps the consequences are inevitable. As fewer people serve in our military, fewer
Americans appreciate the sacrifice we made and the risk taken – by those who
are – or have been – in the armed forces.
Does this fact explain, at least in part, the callous
disregard for the welfare of veterans displayed by the Veterans Administration
bureaucracy (few of whom, I’ll surmise, are veterans themselves)?
No comments:
Post a Comment