The benefits of being a Veteran often come late in life. I enlisted in 1969, right out of high school. I didn't enlist to kill people, at 17 I was in search of adulthood. My life has often benefited by being a Veteran, but the older one gets, the more Vets become romantic about their time in the service and I'm going to tell you why. It's not about war stories, it's about the main difference between the life of duty vs civilian life. Many of us get out after the first enlistment. Mine lasted through two and many spend the best years on their life in duty. Not just Vets, but police, firefighters, EMT's and many more professions. The guys who stayed for life in any of those fields are true hero's.
But Vets who left to raise families and build careers often look back at their time as the only time in their lives they gave their all for people they never met. Americans who often denigrate the service or have no opinion one way or another. In truth, it is often the only time in our lives we were not about us, our families or the little worlds we live in as adults!
We spend a life time building our careers, educating our children, taking care of our parents... everything is about us, our little world and the people we love. That's not a bad thing to do... in itself, it is virtuous.
But there was a time we put our lives on the line for our Country, people we didn't know and a way of life we wanted to preserve. Those are truly heroic deeds! In comparison, our little world endeavors seem selfish. Most Americans never look beyond their own family and neighborhood. Even though our enlistment may have been selfish, to get away from family, stay out of jail, save for a college education, what we remember, is protecting our whole country. My first paycheck in the service was $97.50.... for the whole month, and a third of that went into savings bonds!
So when we "Wax Nostalgic" those are the times we miss. Years of duty to everyone, virtually for nothing. That is what we are proud of! For those of you who serve a lifetime as GI's, Police, Firefighters... there is no end to my gratitude, or my praise. Thank you. You're duty does not go unappreciated.