November 11, 2019
Veterans Day should be renamed.
It happened once before. Veterans Day was originally
termed Armistice Day. It commemorated the signing of the armistice on November
11 that ended fighting on the Western Front in World War I. But because the
“war to end all wars” didn’t, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day after
World War II. President Eisenhower signed the legislation making the change on
June 1, 1954.
Since the first U.S. invasion of Iraq in 1991, and
especially since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11, Veterans
Day has taken on a new meaning: Military Appreciation Day. Although there are
other national holidays (Memorial Day and the Fourth of July) that have
degenerated into Military Appreciation Days, Veterans Day is the ultimate day
to celebrate all things military.
On Veterans Day, veterans and active duty military
personnel can take advantage of special discounts at many places of business
and free meals at restaurants. Many cities have parades in honor of the
military. Both public and private schools have programs featuring local
veterans and military personnel.
Churches have “patriotic” services on the Sunday
before Veterans Day where veterans and active duty military are encouraged to
wear their uniforms to church, military anthems are played, the names of
veterans are listed in the church bulletin, veterans are recognized and
applauded during the Sunday morning church service, the church sign has the
Scripture on it replaced with something about the military, and more prayers
than usual are offered for “the troops.” Some churches show a video tribute to
the troops, have a military color guard march down the main aisle to open the
service, or have a military chaplain as the guest preacher.
But above all, everyone in the country is bombarded with
exhortations to find a veteran and say: “Thank you for your service.”
Service in the military is called being in the
service. But what “service” are we supposed to thank a veteran for? How did a
veteran serve me or any other American by being in the military?
I can see the point of thanking a waiter or waitress
for their service because they actually served me, but the same is not true of
a veteran of the U.S. military. Those in the military do many things, but
serving me or any other American is not one of them.
How were Americans served when veterans fought unjust
and unnecessary wars?
How were Americans served when veterans went to
countries they had no business going?
How were Americans served when veterans obeyed immoral
orders?
How were Americans served when veterans fought wars
that were not constitutionally declared?
How were Americans served when veterans maimed and
killed foreigners who had never threatened any American?
How were Americans served when veterans fought
senseless and immoral wars?
How were Americans served when veterans bombed foreign
countries?
How were Americans served when veterans unleashed
sectarian violence?
How were Americans served when veterans destroyed
foreign industry, infrastructure, and culture?
How were Americans served when veterans bombed,
invaded, and occupied countries that posed no threat to the United States?
How were Americans served when veterans carried out a
flawed, reckless, and belligerent U.S. foreign policy?
How were Americans served when veterans killed civilians
in error (or on purpose) and dismissed it as collateral damage?
How were Americans served when veterans made widows
and orphans?
How were Americans served when veterans carried out
inaccurate drone strikes?
How were Americans served when veterans fought wars of
offense not defense?
How were Americans served when veterans took sides in
civil wars?
How were Americans served when veterans acted as the
world’s policemen?
How were Americans served when veterans acted as a
global force for evil?
How were Americans served when veterans acted as the
president’s personal attack force?
How were Americans served when veterans traveled the
world, met interesting people, and then killed them?
The answer is: I wasn’t, and neither was any other
American.
However, there are people and organizations that
veterans have served.
Presidents have reason to say to veterans, “Thank you
for your service.”
Secretaries of Defense have reason to say to veterans,
“Thank you for your service.”
Army generals have reason to say to veterans, “Thank
you for your service.”
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have reason to say to
veterans, “Thank you for your service.”
Navy captains have reason to say to veterans, “Thank
you for your service.”
Air Force commanders have reason to say to veterans,
“Thank you for your service.”
The military-industrial complex has reason to say to
veterans, “Thank you for your service.”
Defense contractors have reason to say to veterans,
“Thank you for your service.”
Most Americans don’t belong to any of the above
groups. Why, then, should they thank veterans for their service?
Laurence M. Vance [send him mail]
writes from central Florida. He is the author of The War on Drugs Is a War on Freedom; War, Christianity, and the State:
Essays on the Follies of Christian Militarism; War, Empire, and the Military:
Essays on the Follies of War and U.S. Foreign Policy; King James, His Bible, and Its
Translators,
and many other books. His newest books are Free Trade or Protectionism? and The Free Society.
Previous article by Laurence M. Vance: Pot or Peanuts?
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