King: Veterans’ value in modern society

The United States can easily be described as a mixing pot of people. Whether a person is a garbage collector, a school teacher, or a doctor, each and every person brings something different and important to the table. Perhaps the group of people who can offer the most is that of the veteran, who acts as a daily reminder that our country is worth fighting for, serves as an example for every American to base their behavior upon, and brings a unique and priceless perspective to the table.

The United States has fought many battles throughout its history, ranging from the Revolutionary War where we fought against Great Britain to gain our independence to the engagement in Afghanistan beginning in 2001 to seek justice for the American lives taken on 9/11. Furthermore, with the recent geopolitical climate, the talk of war has been heightened, with enemies such as North Korea constantly flexing their nuclear muscles. Thus, every day, the nineteen million living veterans wake knowing that they may also have to fight in a battle, defending innocent American citizens from evil. Think about that for a second. They are willing to lose their lives so that we can enjoy the liberty-abounding lives that we live every day in America. This willingness to go to battle for the country serves as a reminder to every citizen that America is truly worth fighting for. Not only that, they were willing to help in multiple other facets, such as providing humanitarian aid in order to help fellow citizens. Veterans remind us that even small actions, such as picking up a piece of trash on the sidewalk or setting aside political differences to help a neighbor, all help our country and continue to be of paramount importance in the continuation of our great union. No matter the differences in opinion, race, or creed, we must come together and support our country. 

What descriptions come to mind when you think about a veteran that you know? Maybe an aunt, a grandpa, a teacher, or even a parent? Without a doubt that person is brave, displays integrity, and is loyal. As is the case, every veteran serves as a basis for all American citizens to use as an example for their own behavior, imploring us to demonstrate the same exceptional qualities that our veterans show every day. Take, for instance, Alec Toscani, who is a volunteer ski instructor for disabled Americans. Toscani was inspired by the sight of a veteran pushing through adversity and learning to ski even with a broken back. This inspiration led Toscani, a former ski racer from New Mexico, to volunteer as a ski instructor for disabled veterans, thus helping veterans push themselves and live better lives. Toscani, like many other Americans, was inspired by a veteran to make a positive impact in his community. In effect, the everyday actions of our veterans in which they invariably demonstrate the qualities of loyalty, bravery, and integrity, serve to be a basis for every American’s behavior, which undeniably makes our country a much better place.

A perspective is defined as the certain way that an individual looks at a topic. We all undoubtedly could have different perspectives on almost any issue, whether as simple as Coke vs. Pepsi or as complex as more vs. less military spending. The individual perspectives that we each bring to the table are all important because we each see an issue in a different light and the mixture of those differences may provide for a solution. Perhaps no more important is that of the veteran’s perspective; someone who has sworn an oath to defend and protect our country. They may well have seen the toll of the decision to call for war, the humanity in the way that citizens helped each other after natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, or the joy on the face of a child after reuniting them with their parents. All of these experiences shape the perspective of a Veteran to a state that is different from that of your everyday American citizen, simply because they haven’t experienced those situations. For this reason, it is essential for the veteran's perspective to be listened to and truly reflected on when making decisions as a country. They are the ones who have been truly affected by such decisions in the past and, as such, should be given a say in these decisions in the present.

Every veteran unquestionably adds to society by reminding every citizen that our country is worth fighting for. They also demonstrate the patriotic values of an American for every individual to see and bring a valuable perspective to society. Therefore, the value and importance of the American veteran within society has always been and will always remain priceless and incalculable.