Veterans’ Day

Last week we were in Panama and last Friday and Saturday were Indepenedence Day there. We attended the parades and pageantry associated with that event and it gave me a chance to reflect on American veterans and what they’ve accomplished in their relatively brief history.

The successful Panamanian revolution against Gran Columbia only lasted a few hours back on November 4th, 1903 after three failed attempts in the previous century – but only because the US Navy was posted off-shore near Colon on the Atlanitic coast where the Columbian Army landed to put down the revolution. Under the guns of Teddy Rooosevelt’s “Big Stick”, the Columbian troops surrendered to the provisional Panamanian government and signed away their claims to Panama after crossing the isthmus on the American-built and maintained railroad.

Although the Americans sought strategic and capital gain from the successful prosecution of the revolution, the fact remains that Panamanians were finally granted their independence from Columbia and now stands as a shining jewel of capitalism in the region due to American fighting men. By extension, the canal we built there made the liberation of the world from the Axis Powers possible – the canal was the target of no less than three attempts at sabotage by the Japanese during the World War because of its strategic importance to the US who depended on the Canal to keep it’s two-ocean Navy supplied.

Continuing along this line of thought, American veterans, back to our own Revolution through current times have freed the entire world from tyrants and despots. Where the American fighting forces aren’t applied, tyranny still reigns. We’ve lost sight of the fact that before our Revolution, every habitable spot on Earth was under the thumb of Kings. There was no relief from taxes and abuse of power. The American soldier began a worldwide liberation movement that continues today when they stood firm at Lexington and Concord.

No other soldier in world history has left freedom in his wake like the American soldier. In our own country, contrary to popular culture arguments, the American soldier did indeed free the slaves of the South by his own sacrifice and suffering. They freed the Cubans from the Spanish boot of oppression. The arrival of American troops in Europe resulted in the surrender of the Kaiser’s army in about a year, accomplishing what the Europeans couldn’t accomplish in three years of bloody fighting. And then, when the Europeans squandered their victory and peace, it was Americans again who rescued the world from the Europeans again twenty years later.

It was American blood and treasure that pushed the Communists back from South Korea and the American youth that was spent in Viet Nam was for the freedom of the Vietnamese and all of the people of that region. In Grenada and Panama, American troops removed despotic rulers who had prevented democratically-elected governments from serving their people. American troops historically rolled back the forces of Saddam Hussein and liberated the people of Kuwait after months of rape and plunder.

Today, the American fighting forces have liberated millions of people in two countries and have put the dictators of the world on notice. The most fearsome thought for those who mistreat their people is that of the sight of US fighting men landing by land, sea or air on their soil. Witness the constant blather coming from Hugo Chavez and Kim Jong-Il about American plans to kill them. They know there’s nothing they can do to stop the inevitable if the decision is ever made.

But look who are our heroes from these fighting forces; not professional fighting men, but farm boys from Tennessee and pushcart merchants from New York City. Take two of my favorite examples; Sergeant Alvin York, the most decorated  soldier of World War I was a reformed alcoholic draftee with nine-months of education from Tennessee who after accomplishing the most amazing one-man attack in history returned to his farm in Tennessee until his days ended. Audie Murphy was a little Texas farmboy who was rejected by the Marines and the paratroopers in the opening days of World War Two and went on to be the most-decorated soldier of World War Two, and then became a reknowned actor.

American veterans come from ordinary existences, they accomplish mighty tasks after sacrificing everything, many times without support from their countrymen, and then return to the ranks of citizens with little mention of their herculean acheivements. The friends that they’ve lost in battle are never far from their thoughts and they have a knowing glance and soft spot for other members of this vast “band of brothers” than spans generations. They fought for their friends, not some lofty political ideal, but, in the end, the American veteran has freed the world. He’s given his life, he’s given his youth for the freedom of all people around the world.

And all veterans have ever asked is that Americans treasure the gift of peace and security that veterans have given them.

Category: Society, Terror War