I feel like I'm doing a lot of apologizing on here lately for forgetting to post. Unfortunately I did forget to post last week and I'm late this week. Please bear with me as I'm in a time of transition in my life, looking for a new job, and just generally very busy. I so appreciate all of you who take the time to read this blog, you guys are awesome! Thank you for the support!
Seeing as tomorrow is Veteran's Day it got me thinking about a toddler's favorite question that adults often struggle to answer. Why?
Why do these brave men and women sign up to leave behind safety and security? To be separated from their families? Why do they put their lives on the line? Why are they willing to give it all for people they've never met, many of whom are indifferent at best and hostile at worst? Why? What's the point? What drives them to make these sacrifices?
It's not the money. It's not the benefits. It's certainly not having control over your own schedule or life. Maybe some do it for the stability, but there's stable ways of life that don't require a contract. Maybe some do it to travel, but that's a gamble because you don't know where you'll be stationed. Perhaps some go in for the 'honor and glory' but when you're part of such a huge group most people will never know your name.
So why do it at all?
Everyone has their own answers but mine, based on the actions and words of the many veterans is that they do it because they believe that there are some things worth fighting for. They fight for freedom.
Freedom of speech. Freedom to worship or not to worship as you choose. Freedom to not be separated according to ethnicity, or gender or class. Freedom to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Freedom to recognize that all men are created equal. Freedom to keep and bear arms so that civilians can protect their rights.
They fight to protect all the freedoms that the founding fathers believed we were given by God when they wrote the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
So this Veterans Day, thank a veteran for every freedom you have. Thank them because they chose to fight so we didn't have too.
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