On Veterans’ Day 1993, I was on my 80 days terminal leave from the Army, working as a security guard on a construction site, waiting for the Spring semester to start at SUNY Oswego. I’d had a sudden interest in politics and started reading the newspaper again. The Syracuse Herald reprinted a column from Chicago’s Mike Ryko that day which has stuck with me every Veterans Day since. <\/p>\n
When I started reading blogs a few years back, I was pleased to see that Matt Burden had also read that particular column and republishes it every year. So let me add my endorsement to the message. Anyone who has survived that first soul-shattering morning of basic training and stuck out their military service for the remainder of their commitment in spite of it, has my unending admiration and respect, no matter what job the military assigned them.<\/p>\n
I’ve known real honest-to-God heroes who slogged across Europe, across the Pacific, through the jungles of Burma, Central America and Vietnam. Guys who stood on the Eastern border of Western Europe, the northern border of South Korea. Folks who met the enemy from the land, sea and air, and folks who’ve never heard a shot fired away from the marksmanship range. They’re all Veterans and all can claim a measure of pride in their service, voluntary or otherwise. <\/p>\n
One old guy I knew from my hometown was a member of the VFW, the American Legion and marched in every parade in town because he was proud of his service during World War II. The old guy had been an Army meat cutter stationed in Buffalo, NY for the entire war but he never put on airs or made up stories and I doubt anyone in town was prouder of their service. And he had every right.<\/p>\n