A Veteran’s View
When I was asked if I could talk about the Veterans at our annual meeting, I was a little hesitant. I felt because I was lucky enough not to be in harms way that I wasn’t qualified.
Then I saw the wall of Veterans Stars at South Shore Elder Services and saw that my name was there. I am past Commander for six years of the American Legion and it made me proud and honored that I was asked to speak and the more I thought about the request, the more I knew I would like talking about Veterans and what we owe them for their service to our country.
When I volunteered for the Navy during the Korean War I did it because I felt it was my duty, along with many of my classmates, as Americans who love their country and was willing to sacrifice all if necessary. I served from 1951 to 1956 and was proud that I did. I have three older brothers who were in the service of their country at different times. One was a career Marine who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, one served in the U.S. Army and my oldest brother was in the Navy in WWII and earned the Purple Heart after survived having his ship sunk in combat.
I am paraphrasing a great speech that President Reagan gave about what our veterans have done and are still doing so we can remain a free nation.
He said if we are looking for answers, for so many years, we achieved something never done before, we achieved freedom and dignity but at a high price. Those people that say today there are no heroes do not know where to look. Look at Arlington Cemetery where only a tiny fraction of simple white markers, crosses or Stars of David provide a monument to a veteran who paid the price so we can be a free nation. There are hundreds of these Cemeteries all over the world where our heroes are buried.
They fought in many battles from Belleau Wood and the Argonne Forest in WWI
At Omaha beach, Salerno, Guadalcanal, and Tarawa in WWII
At Pork Chop Hill in Korea
In hundreds of rice paddies in Vietnam
We owe our veterans for our freedom and our way of life.
Those are great words of deserving praise by President Reagan.
There is something most people do not realize, when you enlist in the armed forces of the United States of America you swear an oath.
Listen closely to the words:
ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ARE SWORN TO PRESERVE AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO GIVE THEIR ALL, UP TO AND INCLUDING THEIR LIFE FOR THEIR COUNTRY. THEIR LIFE FOR THEIR COUNTRY!
Just think of these young men and women at ages 18 and up making an unwritten pledge to give up their lives for their country so we can stay as a free nation and how many young men and women made the ultimate sacrifice so we could be free, something they did willingly. When you sign on the dotted line it is the luck of the draw, for the armed services can send you anywhere.
There are many things we have to thank our Veterans for and here are some of them written by Charles M. Province, a U.S. Army Veteran. The following is a list of items made possible because of our veterans who were willing to sacrifice all.
It is the Veteran not the preacher who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Veteran not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Veteran not the poet who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Veteran not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Veteran not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial.
This is my favorite and how true it is
It is the Veteran not the Politician who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Veteran who salutes the flag. Who serves beneath the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag.
It is the Veteran with faith in God who has given us all our Freedoms.
As you know we have many Veterans, both men and women in Afghanistan, Iraq and all over the world that are protecting our country and its citizens so we can continue to live free.
Have you ever noticed if you talk to a Veteran who was in harms way and asked him or her about their experiences, they do not like to talk about them? I know many friends in the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars who have seen and been in the war zones and witnessed many of their buddies either wounded or killed. When they talk about them, it just brings back very sad memories and most of them will either tear up or actually cry thinking about it. If you can get one of these veterans to talk about their experiences you will understand what they did for all of us.
Have you ever noticed when there is a parade and Old Glory comes into view Veterans will salute and those Veterans in chairs ,(if possible) will stand to acknowledge our flag? Check it out at the next parade you attend. Do you put your hand over your heart when Old Glory passes by, if you don’t please do the next time you have the opportunity.
If you know a Veteran or see a uniformed military man or woman, go up to them and thank them for their service. I have had this done to me and believe me, it is a great feeling when there are people that appreciate the sacrifices that our Veterans made and are still making so we can enjoy our freedom.
It is nice to see this generation is showing so much respect for our veterans.
This is an abbreviated version of the speech Al Varraso gave at the South Shore Elder Services Annual Meeting. Al is a Board Member and proud Veteran from Braintree.