Veterans Day 2015

Hello.  It’s that time again. Veterans Day.  The day when people walk up to you and say “Thank You for Your Service”.  The day when certain Restaurants and Stores give us a Free Meal and/or a Discount.  The day when those of us who Honorably Served in the United States Military might get a Chance to tell our “War Stories” to a few Kids in School or we get to march in a Parade.

But for me, it’s the day that reminds me that I, along with a few million more of my Brothers and Sisters, no matter which Uniform we wore, whether they are alive or dead, that WE did do something that those who are Civilians just don’t get.  At least, a lot don’t.

When it was Time to swear “I do Solemnly Swear…”, we did it. That’s all.

Drafted, Enlisted, Appointed to an Academy; Cook, General, Infantry, Fighter Jock, Nurse, Bubblehead, whatever, that’s all just jobs or WHAT we Did.  WHO WE ARE IS MORE IMPORTANT.

WE ARE THE VETS.  WE ARE THE ONES WHO, AT THE CORE OF OURSELVES, STEPPED UP WHEN ASKED IF WE COULD SERVE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EVEN IF IT KILLED US.

And we said “Yes”.

Now a lot of us didn’t make it back home.  Or they came Home in a Box.

Or on a Stretcher, to be “Patched Up’, and sent home with our Brand New Legs or Arms or Guts or whatever they did to make us “as Well as Possible.”

And a lot came home with Broken Minds and Spirits because they saw or felt or smelled or LIVED through One “Incident” Too Many.  And Too Damn Many of them are Roaming the Streets for Too Damned Long for me to think that our “Gooberment” really cares about them.

But in a Strange Way, that’s Okay.  Because I didn’t Swear an Oath to Cover their Political Asses.  I took an Oath so that My Family and Your Family and all Good People who can live under our Constitution can be as Safe and Secure as my Brothers and Sisters can make it.

You know, the REAL Bosses in the Republic.

We, The People.

But for most Vets, we just Swore in, did our Jobs, came Home and lived Life.

So I’ll take Your Thanks, but not for me alone.  I’ll take them for all my Brothers and Sisters who Honorably Served and aren’t Present with me. Heck. I’ll even use your Discounts.  Got some Repairs I need to do to the House this weekend, so thank you Lowes.

But on one day a Year, I won’t Accept your Thanks.  Instead, I’ll tell you where the nearest VA Hospital is, or the nearest Military Cemetery and tell you to give your Thanks to those who “Occupy” those Locations.

For you see, for some us, even Vets have Heroes.

And THOSE Men and Women can NEVER be Thanked Enough.

Bubblehead Les Out.