Brewer Remembers Sacrifice of All Veterans
On November 11, 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, an armistice went into effect between the Allied nations and Germany. The temporary secession of hostilities in World War I that took place was referred to as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Today, as a nation still at war, we know that was not the case.
Since that day, generations of American citizens have continued to answer the call to serve in the United States Armed Forces, each of them pledging to uphold the highest level of integrity and bravery of each branch and promising to defend the freedoms of our great nation. It has been almost a century since the citizens of the United States of America began paying tribute to our service men and women on November 11th. Since that time there have been many wars and each has left a lasting impact on the lives of the men and women who served, the people that love them, and our nation as a whole. Today, there are over 21 million veterans living in this country, each one with a different story and a different experience.
This year our country will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, a war that divided our nation. The average age of a soldier then was only 21 and those that returned suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and higher rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction. Many of the scars of war, both seen and unseen, were left unaddressed and they received little thanks from our fellow countrymen.
I am proud to say that we have come a long way in meeting the needs of our veterans. We have increased awareness of the hidden wounds of war, including the lasting effects of traumatic brain injuries and the mental health challenges that many veterans must struggle to overcome each and every day. Over the past two years, in Massachusetts alone, we have increased funding for Veterans Outreach Centers and homeless shelters to ensure that returning soldiers are not forgotten and that they receive the appropriate services as they transition back into civilian life. Additionally, The Valor Act, signed into law this year, will create increased supports for veteran-owned businesses, Gold Star Families, military children and broaden higher education access to Veterans in the Commonwealth. Veterans looking for work can also utilize career centers, open across the state in November, as part of “Hire a Veteran Month”.
The Commonwealth is a leader across the nation in providing benefits to our veterans and it is something to be proud of. The soldiers today continue to strive to live up to the expectations of the generations before them who served and to uphold the highest traditions of the military. They will be forever tied to the men and woman who served before them and who paved the way to raise awareness for the needs of veterans and secure the services available to them today.
President Ronald Reagan once said: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
It is never too late to pay tribute to our Veterans, their service extends far beyond their time spent on active duty or with their boots on the ground in a foreign land, the brave men and women in our armed services have given their entire lives. No soldier returns from conflict unchanged and their decision to serve is one of the most truly selfless acts a person can carry out. We may never be able to fully repay the debt we owe our soldiers but we should never stop trying. I am thankful to live in a nation that produces such men and women.
Posted: Fri, Nov 9, 2012
Updated Fri, Nov 9, 2012