Veteran’s Day 2021

Sometimes other people say it best. These lyrics by Rod McKuen say it well. (Lyrics from Justsomelyrics.com)

********

Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians

Come and take my eldest son, show him how to shoot a gun
Wipe his eyes if he starts to cry when the bullets fly.
Give him a rifle, take his hoe, show him a field where he can go
To lay his body down and die without asking why

Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians

Sticks and stones can break your bones; even names can hurt you
But the thing that hurts the most is when a man deserts you
Don’t you think its time to weed the leaders that no longer lead
From the people of the land who’d like to see their sons again?

Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians

God if men could only see the lessons taught by history
That all the singers of this song cannot right a single wrong
Let all men of good will stay in the fields they have to till
Feed the mouths they have to fill and cast away their arms

Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians

**********

To all who served, you have my sincere gratitude. You gave up a lot to stand up for those that could not stand up for themselves. I wrote the piece that follows back in 2013. I hope we always sincerely honor those who served. Not only by words but by deeds as well. There are many, many veteran organizations who could use your support. In a time when words seem too little, make yours count.

*********

It starts with a tearful goodbye and a lonely car, bus or plane ride. It is filled with questioning – am I doing the right thing, will I be missed, and will I come home? Images of family, friends and children you don’t even know come into your mind – even those in countries you cannot even imagine. The decision to serve your country is not an easy one. It holds a promise of a better life even though many never live to see it. It is a life where fear is cloaked with hope. A soldier doesn’t question; they depend on the patriots at home to keep the government accountable. They answer the call again with every waking day. I am forever grateful for the experience and am haunted by the lives lost – both mentally and physically. I will never forget our graduation day when some of my classmates were still being called into service. I hope we don’t forget those whose choice was made for them. On this day, I honor all who started their day with that tearful goodbye and the families that are forever changed by one young person’s decision to serve.

Advertisement