Veteran's Day II

As I've watched social media and heard from friends and relatives today, it has struck me how much the nation's response to veterans has changed over the last 70 years or so.  When the troops came home from WWII they were hailed as heroes.  Ticker tape parades, jobs for the asking, GI Bill, etc were the norm.  And these veterans became known as the Greatest Generation (with a little help from Tom Brokaw).  Now we are losing them to old age and the sentiments only grow stronger.  Which is as it should be.

But from the return of the heroes of WWII to 9/11 the nation was at best ambivalent about our veterans.  Veterans of the Korean "Police Action" were largely ignored and not given their due.  Most know the story of the hideous treatment of Vietnam Vets when they returned.  The stories of Veterans walking through airports and being spit on are legion.  It was a pretty shameful era in which the populace blamed the wrong people and the government did nothing to change the perception.  From Vietnam to the end of the century, I would characterize the attitude as ambivalence.  The respect gradually returned under Reagan, but those of us in the military were largely invisible.  That changed somewhat after Desert Storm as people started to realize what an awesome capability the nation possessed and service members became more visible in society.  But then it receded during the '90s as Clinton focused mostly on the economy and only used the military in "surgical" ways.

But then came 9/11.  A direct threat to the homeland.  The loss of more American lives than at Pearl Harbor.  The nation rallied.  And we started the long war which is still being prosecuted today.  And the nation became acutely aware of the dedication, capability, and sacrifice of our military and their families.  Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines acquitted and continue to acquit themselves exceedingly well.  They are held up as examples.  They are "thanked" routinely for their service.  And the general attitude is one of admiration and thanks.  I'm very proud to say that members of my family have been part of that generation who have responded to the call and have set the example that has allowed, really compelled, the nation to achieve a new respect for our military.  Every citizen who has been in the military or had a close family member respond to the call since 9/11 knows the sacrifice and danger that they lived with every day.  And it strikes me that it is so appropriate for our nation to continue to hold them up, thank them for their service, and look to them as leaders for the future.