Jenzen: Why is the veteran important?

As stated by Benjamin Disraeli, “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.” Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, courage, commitment, discipline, confidence, empathy, and intellect; these are all attributes you will find in a veteran. Veterans set a prime example of what an American should be.

Veterans have fought for our freedoms and risked their lives for the sake of our country. Without their services, we would not have the freedoms or liberties we do today. There would be no United States. No Life, Liberty, Pursuit of happiness, and no way to ensure that our country will continue to be the “Land of Opportunity.” Writer and philosopher G.K. Chesterton wrote, “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” They show that love by possibly sacrificing their lives for the greater good of our nation.They endured many hardships we aren’t aware of. They watched their fellow soldiers and friends die, and they did it for us. If true love is an unwavering, unbreakable, unparalleled fondness and devotion towards something, a soldiers’ love for their country is the epitome of true love.

Veterans are people who have risked their lives in order to save ours. They could’ve stayed home with their families, but they chose to put their lives in danger to protect us. Good soldiers are able to demonstrate both physical and personal courage.

Physical courage means overcoming fears of bodily harm and doing your duty. Personal courage isn’t the absence of fear; rather, it’s the ability to put fear aside and do what is right. This bravery is what allows a soldier to take risks in combat in spite of fear. True bravery happens when soldiers display goal-oriented behavior in extremely dangerous situations. Soldiers are one of the greatest assets of any country. They are the guardians of the nation and protect its citizens at all costs. Moreover, they are a selfless lot who put the interests of the country above their personal interests. It takes a true hero to be one of those people who goes into battle.

America: Land of the free and home of the brave. However, we can only stay the “land of the free” if we remain the “home of the brave.” Our veterans are paving a phenomenal path for our current and future soldiers. They are astonishing leaders. With dedication to their work, they have shown what a good military looks like and how they act. Not only are they valued role models for our military, they are also model citizens that put in hard work, dedication, and determination in all the work they do. It has been statistically proven that employers are more likely to hire veterans over the average person. They are adaptable, have a strong work ethic, and are loyal; all of which are predominant characteristics that employers want in an employee. This is known as the “military talent.” All branches of service heavily invest in leadership development, and they thrive in incredibly demanding roles. Veterans must be able to work in teams, learn new skills quickly, rapidly adapt to changes, and always strive for ‘mission accomplished.' Everyone can learn valuable lessons to a considerable extent from our veterans. They can teach us about the true meaning of purpose, leadership, work ethic, community, and adversity in civilian life. These life lasting lessons, that are learned in military service, are often neglected in our civilian lives. Reverend Dr. Cary Larson says, “I learned a great sense of loyalty to things beyond me; family, church, community. You might not get what you want, but you will receive good for bigger things. It was a million dollar experience you wouldn’t pay a nickel for. I wouldn’t change anything about it.” He served actively in the U.S. Navy for five years, and fifteen years as a reservist. According to Charles Sale, who served in the U.S. army for twenty-two years, “Being in the military helps you be a better person.” Captain Gregory Easton and Lieutenant Naomi Easton both served in the U.S. Navy. Naomi served for four years, Gregory for thirty. “Military experience and values create unique individuals capable of bettering themselves, society, and the nation,” states Gregory. He goes on to say, “With leadership, you cause things to happen. Leadership leads to team work and shared values, which leads to unity of effort, which leads to synergy, which leads to mission accomplishment by all involved.” When speaking about the core values instilled in service, Naomi declares, “Those core values are how we succeed and survive.” After speaking with these veterans, I have a greater appreciation for all of our service members, active and retired. Their profound acts of bravery alone are astounding. 

Even though we don’t know them all, we owe every single one of them. Veteranshave done and continue to do extraordinary deeds. Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in and out of service for our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. I hope their remembrance is as lasting as the land they honored.