• Skip to first row site navigation
  • Skip to second row site navigation
  • Skip to news entries
  • Skip to archive page
  • Skip to double wide sidebar
  • Skip to tabbed sidebar
  • Skip to left sidebar
  • Home
  • Classifieds
  • Coupons

Veterans can never receive enough thanks

BanksNewsTODAY

XML RSS Feed mobile Email Alerts facebook Facebook
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
  • Commerce News
  • Madison News
  • Jackson News
  • e-edition
  • Ga. News Museum
  • Special Sections

Veterans can never receive enough thanks

Posted by
Chris Bridges
in Opinions
Tuesday, November 10. 2009
Comment (1)
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”
As Veteran’s Day arrives again, I find it hard to express just how thankful I am for every American who has ever worn the uniform of our armed forces. These brave men and women are the truest of heroes, never asking for praise, but certainly worthy of any they receive. It’s as true now as it ever was.

It seems for more years than I can even recall off the top of my head, our nation has been involved in some conflict, some war. Bravely, these men and women answer the call when I can only imagine how difficult it must be to do. I know most feel it’s their calling, a sense of patriotic duty, still it has to be hard. It has to be hard to say goodbye to family members, to friends, to homes and venture abroad unsure of the return date, if there is one.

Yet, they do it every day. In our communities they answer the call. Young men and women, many of whom were in high school not that ago, answer the call no matter how dangerous, how threatening or how long it may take. They do so for one reason: the greatest country on this planet.

If you ask people, they’ll tell you they are thankful for veterans. They will tell you they appreciate all they’ve done. Yet, how many donate money, even a little, to veterans’ groups? How many write letters to their elected officials demanding better benefits for our men and women once their call of duty is complete?

How many wonder if wounded veterans are getting the necessary care they need, whether it be physical or mental? What do we do for those family members who have had loved ones taken away from them or will not have a reunion at the airport?

It doesn’t take much to get people riled up these days. Republicans bash Democrats for being Democrats.
It’s same on the other side of the aisle as Democrats bash Republicans for, well, being Republicans.

There is debate about whether we should be in this war or whether this conflict is worth sacrificing American troops. For as vital it is to debate those things, we must never forget those on the front lines of these battles, day in and day out. Week in and week out. Month after month they serve, sometimes multiple tours of duty.

Oh, we say we’re thankful and some may even fly an American flag at their residence. Yet, how many really speak up on behalf of veterans? How many take their actions beyond talk and demand better treatment, better pay, better benefits, better care for those who have served?

On this day in 2009, we honor those who have served. We salute them with our thanks and may even tell some how much we appreciate them.

Yet, isn’t it time we did more? Isn’t it time we all came together across the political spectrum and demanded more from Washington when it comes to the brave men and women who serve and have served?

I long for the day when thousands turn out with signs filled with slogans demanding more for veterans. That’s a cause I think all Americans should get behind, regardless of political persuasion.

Oh, how I long for that day.

Chris Bridges is an editor with Mainstreet Newspapers. E-mail comments about this column to chris@mainstreetnews.com.
Defined tags for this entry: Chris Bridges, Opinions
Related entries by tags:
  • OPINION: Math 123: Failed policy masquerading as progress
  • OPINION: Ludlow signs off for last time
  • OPINION: Enjoying the simple pleasures
  • OPINION: A little bio info goes a long way
  • OPINION: Trying week for all involved
  • OPINION: All in all, 2010 not a bad year
  • OPINION: 25 things you probably don’t want to know about me
  • OPINION: Family makes holidays special
  • OPINION: ‘Dandy’ Don a trendsetter in broadcast booth
  • Thankful for lessons learned
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)
#1 unemployed vet on 11/14/09 at 06:56 AM [Reply]
Fully agree. I'm not a retired veteran, a disabled veteran, but a veteran all the same. I even just rejoined the service as a reservist because of lack of civilion jobs in my former field of work.

In the years I've been a civy I was under the impression people liked and wanted veteran employees.

Going threw a temp service, scoring highly in all office related areas-- and only getting offered warehouse jobs. I get it, I'm in shape and a better fit for general labor, credentials or otherwise.

This is my personal 'beef'
I've had several jobs, and they all seemed very supportive of my past military creditenals. But when it comes down to it, they don't care..

Veterans to most people are the ones who are more apt to get things done, while they go on an extended break or home.

If you ask me to move something heavy, stay late to get something done, take on extra work load... Chances are, it'll get done.

But I fully agree, we don't receive enough thanks, or benifits- The day we march with signs at DC I'll be in the front row with something along the lines of Job Equality (which we questionably allready have)scribbled on a plankard.
Add Comment
E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
CAPTCHA

 
   
 
Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.
 

Recent Comments

Passing Through about Lula advised to prep for growth
Wed, Aug 26, 2015 - 09:43 AM
Twice in the last month after work on my way home I have driven around the corner going toward [...]
rose about Atlanta Hawks team member arrested after car chase
Fri, Jul 31, 2015 - 06:41 AM
What has happened to sports? They are not longer sports. Instead sports have become a haven [...]
anon about Armed robbery suspect caught
Thu, Jul 30, 2015 - 12:59 PM
Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Throw those B@$tArd$ out about Groundbreaking held for Windmill Park Sports Complex
Wed, Jul 15, 2015 - 11:51 PM
Just got my appraisal. Tax increased by $40 bucks on a $70 dollar tax bill for land with no r [...]
David about Groundbreaking held for Windmill Park Sports Complex
Wed, Jul 15, 2015 - 05:46 AM
I hope you guys get a good crew to keep it in shape. The current fields are horrible and lack [...]
anon about Groundbreaking held for Windmill Park Sports Complex
Tue, Jul 14, 2015 - 06:45 PM
How come the recreation staff was not there.

Sister Sites

BarrowJournal
BraseltonNews TODAY
CommerceNews TODAY
JacksonHerald TODAY
MadisonJournal TODAY
MainStreetNews OBITS
MainStreetNews SPORTS
MainStreetNews.com

Archives

  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • Recent...
  • Older...

Community

Banks Community

Keyword Tags

Alto
Angela Gary
Baldwin
Baldwin crime
bank robbery
banks
Banks BOC
Banks BOE
Banks County Board of Commissioners
Banks County Board of Education
Banks County BOE
Banks County Chamber of Commerce
Banks County Sheriff's Office
BC BOC
BJC
BOC
BOE
Chamber
Chamber CVB
chris
Chris Bridges
City of Homer
column
Crime
CVB
Development Authority
DFACS
DOT
Economy
Editorial
election
elections
Family Connection
Feature
Features
Festivals
football
Gene Hart
Gillsville
Health Department
Health Dept.
Holidays
Homer
Homer City Council
justin
Kristi Reed
Lula
Lula City Council
Maysville
Meet the Candidates
Michael Harden
News
Opinions
Planning commission
politics
Public Safety
Schools
Sheriff Chapman
Sports
Taxes
Test Scores
Tom Crawford
Top Stories
travel
Travel feature
Travel features
Unemployment rate
Weather
wreck
Wrecks
Powered by s9y & Optional Necessity • Admin

↓