Technically, this isn’t my first Veteran’s Day. It is simply my first official Veteran’s Day as a veteran. It’s hard to believe that on this day last year, my unit landed in Baltimore after spending a mere 10 months in Kuwait and Iraq. I am among the first to admit that it was a fairly easy deployment. Sure, we worked long hours with very few days off, had semi-limited contact with family members and other loved ones, and were just removed from the world during that time. It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t that hard either.
This day originally started out as Armistice Day, a day that marked the end of hostilities of World War I. I am not well-versed on “the war to end all wars,” but I often feel that it is forgotten, and this is truly unfortunate. But that is not what this post will be about. I wrote a post a few weeks ago about how many of the Occupy Wall Street fools were really complaining about the wrong thing, and offered them a solution to their current financial calamaties: join the military. If anything, it would teach them valuable life lessons and even give them a skill to use in future jobs.
However, as I think more about this proposed solution, I think it would do more harm than good. These folks would serve in the military, complain about it the whole time, but then want all sorts of special treatment when they are done. I’d prefer that the military was full of people who quietly do their job and not expect any special treatment in return. I know these people well because I deployed with a couple handfuls of them last year. They truly understand what it is like to serve.
So all the non-veteran members of Occupy Wall Street, please keep complaining about a system you cannot fix. Just forget about my previous suggestion to solve some of your money problems with a quick trip to the recruiting station. The quiet half of one percent that are currently serving will continue to keep the country safe so you have time to protest the American Dream.
Happy Veteran’s Day to all my brothers and sisters in arms regardless of your service affiliation. The decade that I served will be with me for the rest of my life. If you are currently overseas, stay safe and you’ll be home soon.
Until next time…
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