LETTER: Nation could learn from the diversity that bonds military

To Ozaukee Press:

     Veterans Day, observed this week, was originally called Armistice Day to honor the 116, 516 U. S. soldiers who died in World War I, including those who passed away from the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic that also hit at that time. In 1954, the day was renamed Veterans Day to honor all those who have served in the U.S. armed forces.  

     The U.S. military is comprised of volunteers, both men and women. One positive thing I have heard from veterans is that serving in the armed forces brings you into contact and cooperation with those from many different backgrounds and national locales that you might never interact with otherwise. 

     We saw this recently at the wedding of our niece to a veteran of the campaign Endurance Freedom in the Middle East.  The groomsmen were all army buddies of the groom, and were of multiple ethnic backgrounds from around the country.  The celebration included photos of those military members who had not made it home or had passed away since then. It was a great, joyful wedding. None of this would have happened without the groom’s time in service and the friendships that he made.

     Our country now seems torn by how different we are versus how much we share together. Veterans Day is a good time to put aside those visible differences and look at the commonalities that we all share. Take time to thank a veteran for their service to our country. We would not be the land of the free and the home of the brave if not for our veterans and how they served our country in time of need.                                             

      Besides thanking our veterans, thank their families too. Our son-in-law was deployed with the Air Force five times during Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Middle East. With young children, our daughter came back to stay with us and worked as a nurse. With military families, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. So say a big thank you also to the families of all veterans. 

 Karen Meador

Port Washington