On My Mind
Executive editor — issues and opinionsVeterans Day
Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day.
Today, certain municipalities close their doors while many businesses attract customers with sale prices.
Our military is engaged in wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Yet, I am willing to bet that Veterans Day won’t be or wasn’t mentioned much among our families this week. Many American citizens simply don’t know what it is or where it came from or how it’s not about the pre-Thanksgiving markdowns at the department stores.
Indeed we all seem to know that “Black” Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Veterans Day?
As long as our nation is a free country with a democracy, every day will be Veterans day. It’s syrupy, I know. I don’t think for a second that we’d be in a position to live in freedom if not for the people who had to go into a war.
On Tisha B’av this past summer, I went with a friend to Arlington National Cemetery. Yes, there’s a difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. But if you ever want to teach your children about what all of our freedoms cost us as a nation, or if you are unsure of that price yourself, then go to this historic place.
You will just look at a person in uniform or listen to the nightly news casualty figures a little differently.
You can learn all you need to know about Veterans Day by using any search engine on the Internet.
Just make sure you at least find out why there is more to this than sales and no trash pickup.
Be able to tell your children about this day, because you appreciate it yourself.
