Barb's Burblings

At the eleventh hour of

At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, peace was declared. All was quiet on the Western front. Soldiers put down their machine guns, threw aside their mustard gas. The world rejoiced. It was a new type of war that had ended, one of the bloodiest the world had ever seen. It was the war that was hoped to end all wars. But even as November 11, 1918 passed, dark signs were everywhere. The influenza epidemic killed thousands. A major nation was in the middle of a bloody revolution. Nations grew smug at victory. Nations grew bitter in defeat. Nations withdrew from the rest of the world, naively hoping that by ignoring the rest of the world, they would be able to avoid future conflict. The 1920s roared in America as the seeds of World War II were planted.

Today is the day we honor veterans, the men and women who have been at the front, defending the United States or promoting whatever agenda the United States government wants them to. These people have died, and lived, for the United States. I cannot imagine what it must be like to do that. To be willing to sacrifice yourself like that. Not all have wanted to go. There have been drafts throughout the ages. But, willing or not, they want. And served.

We also need to honor those who fought--and fight--for unpopular causes. The veterans of Vietnam were not treated well. The war the United States is currently involved in is coming under more and more criticism. However a person may feel about the politics of the conflict, we should still support the men and women who are fighting it. I may not have wanted us to go to war in Iraq, but I don’t think anyone thinks it’s a bad thing that Saddam is no longer in power. Our men and women are still over there. They’re getting killed and they’re getting injured. And I thank them for the sacrifice they’re making.

But I also want to take a moment to thank those who didn’t go. Who weren’t on the front lines. I want to salute my Grandfather Dickson, who did serve at the front lines in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. But I also want to salute my Grandfather Makosky, who stayed in Baltimore and worked in the ironworks, supporting the work effort. I love them both very much, and miss them a lot.