I am a veteran, as is my husband, my father, my father-in-law, uncle, cousin, maternal grandfather. From generation to generation, the list goes on. Veterans are all around us, each with their own story of honor, duty and commitment. Some veterans have deeply hidden and private memories, while others share their time of service, open and freely. Every veteran has a story, even if they say they don’t.
My father is a retired aircraft mechanic whose first experience, in his 38 year military tenure, was Vietnam. He was called to at least 5 secret missions in support of desert storm and 9-11 related conflicts thereafter. He spent many missions protecting values and freedoms of people spanning the globe. I have always been curious about his time in service, and until recently, he spoke very little about it when I asked questions.
Mostly, I’ve seen the experiences though his statute, interactions with others or expressions. I will never forget the time when he came back from one particular mission, where he was a “boss” for the first time; he aged considerably. His salt and pepper hair was much more silver than I remembered it and he was quite reserved for some time. While he rarely speaks of the hard core decisions he had to make as a member of the United States Air Force, he often spoke of the comradery among the troops – a group of people he grew to consider family.
We can learn a great deal from our veterans. They can teach us a lot about selflessness, sacrifice, lost time, regrets, moments that forever changed the way they see the world. They can teach us to appreciate the beauty of conflict and how bad situations can forge a friendship and bond so strong, the overshadowing bad circumstances are absorbed in the successes. They can tell us how, when coming face to face with an enemy in combat, the realization of the vulnerabilities of a fellow human pricks the consciousness of the heart.
Each of you knows a veteran, I challenge you, today and every day you have the opportunity, take time to ask a veteran their story. Start with one or two of these questions:
Why did you commit? Was it a sense of duty? Were you called to duty?
What are the best memories of your military experience?
What were the toughest decisions you faced while serving?
Every veteran has a story; from the cooks, to the fighter pilots, from the private to the general. Every position plays a valid role in the Armed Forces.
I also urge you to be aware of veteran assistant programs and when the occasion arises, assist our veterans in finding the resources they and their families need. Our veterans and their families handle extra duties above and beyond the civilian duties we are all called to.
There are many resources available. Seek to know more about your veteran assistance programs in your own community.
You can share your veteran conversations below.
Also, share the resources you are aware of.
Here is a great place to start:
http://www.homefront.ohio.gov/AboutUs.aspx
