Veterans Day

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On this Veterans Day, I want to share with you a little bit of history from CNN Student News:

On November 11, Americans pay tribute to everyone who has served in the U.S. military. But why was this particular date chosen, and how does this holiday differ from Memorial Day?

“World War I, also known as “The Great War,” was fought from 1914 to 1918. During this conflict, Great Britain, France, Russia, Belgium, Italy, Japan, the United States and other countries, which formed the “Allies,” defeated the so-called “Central Powers,” which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey (then the Ottoman Empire) and Bulgaria. On the “eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month” of 1918, German leaders signed an armistice, or a halt to hostilities, with the Allied powers. On that date, November 11, celebrations were held in New York City, Paris, London, and in other cities around the globe. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as “Armistice Day,” a day to observe the end of World War I.

On June 4, 1926, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution asking President Calvin Coolidge to call upon officials to “display the flag of the United States on all government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.” Twelve years later, on May 13, 1938, Congress passed an Act making the 11th of November Armistice Day, a federal holiday.

Initially, Armistice Day was supposed to honor veterans of World War I. But after the call to arms and human sacrifices during World War II and the Korean conflict, veterans’ groups urged Congress to consider a day to celebrate U.S. veterans of all wars. On June 1, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

Difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day

Veterans Day in the United States is a day to honor all Americans who have served in the U.S. military, both during wartime and in peace. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring Americans who have died serving the nation, especially those who died in battle or from wounds received during armed conflicts. On Veterans Day, Americans thank the living veterans for their service to the country and recognize all who have served the country.”

Not forgetting our veterans means more than putting up your flag, getting a day off from work, or even marching in a parade. What more? Those veterans who sacrificed limbs, hearing, and vision are still sacrificing for their country every single day of their lives. Their supportive families are also still sacrificing: keeping the family going while tending to the needs of their injured loved one and offering emotional support, all while holding themselves together.

We - all of us - need to really show these families how much we appreciate their commitment to every person and family in America by lightening their burden. OPERATION FAMILY FUND - with absolutely no overhead (that is, no monies kept for even a telephone bill) has been helping veteran families with financial support so that they can keep their homes, the family car, have food on the table and clothe their children…maintaining their dignity in the face of potentially life-long physical problems which make wage-earning even more difficult than it is in our current climate.

Our military is all voluntary…so remember that these folks chose to protect their fellow Americans knowing it could mean life and limb. The rest of us should choose to protect our vets and their families.

Go to OPERATIONFAMILYFUND.ORG and make a contribution…yeah, I know…money is tight…but never let that stop you from lightening the load on someone else’s back. OPERATIONFAMILYFUND.ORG.

An Important Message for Veteran’s Day

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Today is Veteran’s Day, a time to remember everyone who has served in the United States military.  Watch Dr. Laura’s message about why we must not forget those military families who find themselves in need:

Or watch other videos at youtube.com/DrLaura.

Army Prep School

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As more young males drop out of high school — aimless, and getting into all sorts of trouble - the Army has come up with a plan that solves problems for the youth, as well as for the military:  prep school.

“It’s academic immersion,” explained Col. Jeffrey Sanderson, chief of staff at Fort Jackson, home of the Army’s largest basic training school.  “Our studies show that with only 3 out of 10 people of military age being capable of joining the Army, we are going to have to do something different.” (Associated Press, 8/27/08)

The Army turned six World War II-era buildings at the base into a mini-campus of Spartan classrooms and barracks.  Classes of about 60 soldiers will enter the month-long program every week. 

Their day begins at 5 AM with physical training, eight hours of academic review classes, and homework each night.  It’s a tough and structured day.  Grouped three to four to a class, the students work on GED preparation books.

Recruits must score in the top half of the Army’s aptitude test to qualify for the prep school and they get two tries at a GED certificate.  If they don’t pass on the second try, the Army releases them from their contract.

The Army prefers those who graduate from high school on their own, as it demonstrates tenacity, but that some young men might have quit high school for a wide variety of reasons is a consideration.  “These kids may have quit at some point, but the big thing is, a lot of people have quit on them.  We are not going to allow them to quit,” commented the school’s commander, Captain Brian Gaddis.

Black and White Reigns

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Andrew Klavan, an award-winning author of mystery novels, wrote a brilliant op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal (7/25/08) in which he stated exactly what I believe. 

He pointed out that liberal Hollywood films about the war on terror (In the Valley of Elah, Rendition, and Redacted) have all failed, largely because they propose to make the actions and philosophies of terrorists and coalition forces moral “equivalents,” because they disrespect the military, and “seem unable to distinguish the difference between America and Islamo-fascism.”  These films depict “good” guys as indistinguishable from “bad” guys, ultimately “denigrating the very heroes who defend us.”

Klavan points out that the big blockbuster The Dark Knight, is a conservative movie about the war, like 300 before it, and these films value morality, faith, self-sacrifice and the nobility of fighting for the right.  Liberal, ultimately anti-American, films are realistic and direct, while conservative, pro-values films are usually fantasies using comic-inspired heroes (Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Spiderman 3).

What makes the real world difficult is that “good” guys must defend values in a world that does not universally embrace them, and that puts “good” guys in the awful position of sometimes having to be intolerant, unkind, and brutal in order to ultimately defend the “good” values we love.

As a psychotherapist, I talk to people on the air every day who try to keep out of the way of conflict, confrontation, and judgment, so they will be liked and seen as “good” guys.  I remind them that “good” guys risk, and sometimes cross the line, to stand between evil and the innocent who need protection from the few.

Instead, as Klavan points out, “When heroes arise who take those difficulties on themselves, it is tempting for the rest of us to turn our backs on them, to vilify them in order to protect our own appearance of righteousness.  We prosecute and execute the violent soldier or the cruel interrogator in order to parade ourselves as paragons of the peaceful values they preserve.”

That means that sometimes good men have to kill (”murder” is to kill an innocent) to preserve life; that sometimes they must violate values in order to maintain those values.  That’s just a fact of real life in which good and evil have always co-existed.

Backing Up Those Backing You

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I got this in response to a blog I wrote last week:

Hi, Dr. Laura.  I am my kid’s dad!  I’m writing in response to your blog, “Idiots on Parade“.

As a 15 year member of the world’s greatest Air Force, and third generation protector of this great nation, I want to thank the residents of Lebanon, Missouri for the support and dedication they have displayed, as they laid one of their own “true patriots” to rest.  My travels with the Air Force have allowed me to see that there are still many, many Americans who are grateful for the service that my brothers and sisters in uniform perform on a day-to-day basis.

Many of us spend an unknown amount of time putting our necks on the line so that ALL Americans - even the folks in Berkeley –can continue to enjoy the freedoms they have today.  Having been stationed in California for the last three years, I have seen first-hand the many demonstrations that have taken place in protest of the war.  At first, when I see these demonstrators, my blood boils because I wonder how anyone could feel this way when many young men and women sacrifice a lot on a daily basis.  But once my blood pressure returns to normal, I remind myself that what they are doing is a good thing.  What I mean by that is they are exercising their constitutional rights - the very same rights that we in the military are sworn to uphold and protect at all cost.

So, I want to thank the residents of Berkeley for their indirect support, I want to thank the residents of Lebanon, Missouri for their direct support, and, most of all, I want to thank all  of my brothers and sisters in uniform for the outstanding Job that they are doing on a day-to-day basis.  There is no doubt in my military mind that we have the best and greatest people serving in the volunteer force known as the United States military!

Sincerely,

One Proud Air Force member and
AMERICAN Technical Sergeant,

A. Carpenter

Idiots on Parade

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So, there I was, innocently watching the news on Fox News Channel, when the screen split in two, and on the left side was some guy talking about his group’s letters to all military, basically telling them to go AWOL.  On the right side, was a military representative who was denying the other guy’s assertion that one out of four Marines and other military believe that 9/11 was President Bush’s doing.  He extolled the virtues of a volunteer military who see the truth, because their boots are on that ground, and who have first-hand experience with the realities in the Middle East conflicts. 

I then went to my computer to check my emails, and received the following:

Dear Dr. Laura:

I’m the proud 2-year resident of Lebanon, Missouri.  Today, our city buried a hero, Army Specialist James Finley, who was killed in Afghanistan.

You probably recall the protests and fits that the wacked-out liberals threw in Berkeley, California when the Marines opened a recruiting station.  I’d like to contrast their behavior toward the military with the behavior I saw from my fellow citizens in Lebanon today.

In Sunday’s local paper, the Mayor asked everyone to line the route the funeral procession would take to Specialist Finley’s final resting place.  Local businessmen purchased flags for people to hold, and gave them away by the hundreds.  Even though it was lightly raining, several THOUSAND people lined Jefferson Street to express their condolences and respect for the service of one of America’s true heroes.  Hundreds of Patriot Guard riders, fire trucks from several departments and hundreds of mourners made up the several mile-long funeral procession.  All business in town (including Wal-Mart) closed for an hour to allow their employees to pay their respects.  Bankers in suits stood next to men in work clothes, all silently holding their hands over their hearts and displaying flags as the procession passed.  I did my best to capture the procession and the number of people with my small camera, but the images don’t do the scene justice.  I hope the Finley family took some small comfort from seeing thousands of their fellow citizens paying respect for their son’s sacrifice.

I’m proud and honored to be living in a community where duty, honor and patriotism still mean something.  On July 4th, a 3-story tall flag is hung from the County Courthouse.  On July 12, we have our annual “God and Country” fireworks celebration, and on September 11, we will have a formal ceremony with a military fly-over to recognize everyone who has given the ultimate in keeping us free from terrorism.

Those in Berkeley may feel like they are accomplishing something with their protests.  Here in Lebanon, we truly know how to recognize a hero and what it truly means to be an American.

Respectfully submitted,

Benjamin

Medal of Honor Awarded To a 19 Year Old Hero

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President Bush presented the Medal of Honor to the parents of Specialist Ross McGinnis.  Spc. McGinnis, at 19, is the youngest of the five servicemen who have received the Medal of Honor for valor during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

His training called for him to warn his comrades that a grenade fell inside their Humvee, then jump from the gun turret to escape.  Instead, Spc. McGinnis jumped INTO the vehicle, deliberately placing his body between the grenade and the rest of his crew, thus losing his life while saving all of them.

Of the five servicemen who have received the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan, three died absorbing grenade blasts to protect their comrades.  What can you say that would be adequate to describe this courageous sacrifice?  Bless you, thank you, and Hoo-ah!  These are the role models our schools should teach about when issues of character and bravery are discussed.

Military Training Good for American Youth

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Recently, the news has been filled with reports regarding the military’s acceptance of increasing numbers of felons into their ranks. 

I still believe that each and every male and female who reaches the age of 18 should spend two years in military training.  Our young people are spending more and more of their precious twenties still being dependent children and/or getting into all sorts of trouble with sex, drugs, and violence.  Two years of military experience would toughen ‘em up, teach them self-discipline, give them an outlet for their immense unfocused energies, and provide an opportunity for them to become more mature, thinking individuals.