Take time to thank a veteran

Friday, December 16, 2011

Recently, Merrimack’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8641 celebrated its 50th anniversary, an event that we all should mark in our hearts. Our story about this event in last week’s Journal was one way to say thanks, of course, and we’re glad we could.

But we, like most of us in the United States, are guilty of thinking about veterans, and certainly thanking veterans, only when an “event” occurs: the VFW’s anniversary, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, maybe the Fourth of July because, surely, some veteran or veterans’ group, will march in our local parade.

We need, though, to be more aware of the men and women who gave their time, and in some cases risked their lives, for us. For us? Well, yes. When you give your time and risk your life for your country, it isn’t for some inanimate piece of land or some Jeffersonian concept. It is for the people who make up a nation.

But unless there is something that clearly reminds us – a parade, a holiday, a very visible war – we have a tendency to forget.

Just think about this anniversary: The post is 50 years old and still populated with veterans, a clear indication that we have not put aside war. After all, VFW stands for “veterans of foreign wars,” so these folks have been around.

Because of the way of the world, we are going to call upon men and women again and again to defend us with something other than decals on the backs of our SUVs, so it wouldn’t hurt to thank those who have already served as we ponder who will be next to go.

Thanks, folks.