Thursday, November 11, 2010

Celebrating Veteran's Day: Have You Thanked a Veteran Lately?

I don't think any of us can say that we don't know someone who is currently serving in or who has served in a war. My family is full of veterans: my dad served in the Army in Vietnam, my grandfather was in the Navy in World War II, my mom's parents both served in the Royal Canadian Airforce during World War II, and I even have a relative who was a bugle boy in the Civil War! This day is for all of those brave men and women who put their lives on the line in the name of our country, but I don't think we should just limit our "thanks" to one day of the year.

I've been traveling quite a lot in the past few years, and whenever I'm in airports I notice young men and women in their military uniforms – they are either being shipped out somewhere or coming home for a visit. One time in particular, I was at the airport in Phoenix and saw a young man in Army fatigues standing about waiting for his boarding call. A random woman came over to him, touched his arm, and said "thank you." As she walked away, her husband patted him on the back, and also said thanks. At that moment it struck me: Why don't more people do this? Why don’t I do this?

I'm not looking to start a great movement here, but I think it would be nice if we took ourselves out of the mundane routines in the airport, at the grocery store, or while walking down the street and just gave a smile, a wave, or a verbal "thank you" to our fellow Americans in uniform.


- Elizabeth Millar, Senior Marketing Coordinator, ABC-CLIO, and former resident blogger for Pop Culture Universe.
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ABC-CLIO has great resources to expand your knowledge of veterans and military history including the recently released book Encyclopedia of the Veteran in America as well as Serving America's Veterans: A Reference Handbook, Soldier's Heart: Close-up Today with PTSD in Vietnam Veterans, and the robust database World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.


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2 comments:

  1. KelliNovember 12, 2010 at 8:03 AM

    As a spouse of someone in the military I couldn't agree with you more. My husband truly feels honored when he is thanked somewhere in public. He also feels like it is his duty. Some men and women are just destined to serve.

    We need to honor them everyday because we lose someone in the service it seems everyday. This is someones son, daughter, husband, wife...They are fighting for your right to take that plane somewhere, to buy those groceries. Always remember those who serve.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Spirit WalkerNovember 12, 2010 at 8:15 PM

    Greetings,

    I am a blog master on the NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG…

    … I have just wanted to send you the link sadly showing an example where defamation of a Canadian WWII Veteran is taking place:

    http://norvalmorrisseau.blogspot.com/2010/11/refuting-defamation-of-character-by.html

    It is very sad that this is happening in a month when we celebrate the contribution of generations of Canadian Veterans, who through their courage, determination and sacrifice have helped to ensure that we live in a free and peaceful country.

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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