From the Editorial Staff... - Veterans Day: A time to reflect, respect

the Editorial Staff

Today is a holiday.  There is a good chance that many students did not remember this when they woke up this morning.  After all, there are not many reminders.  We do not have the day off, stores are not stocked with commemorative merchandise and the only visible decorations on the Hill are the Christmas lights recently placed on campus buildings in anticipation of the annual Lighting of the Quad.  By all indications, today is just an ordinary day.

But today is not an ordinary day.  Today is Veterans Day.  Originally designated Armistice Day in commemoration of the end of combat in World War I, it is the day when we recognize and express appreciation for the past and present members of the United States armed forces, or at least we are supposed to do so.  It seems that as many students get older, they are more prone to ignore or forget the significance of Nov. 11.

In elementary school, some of us had Veterans Day assemblies to remind us.  We gathered in gyms decked in red, white and blue and cheered loudly for the men and women in their impressive uniforms.  In middle school and high school, we might have engaged in some project such as writing letters of appreciation to soldiers or collecting items for care packages.  Here at William Jewell College, the day passes without fanfare.  This is not to say that all students fail to recognize the significance of the day.  For students, faculty and staff members who have family members in the military or who serve or have served in the military themselves, the day has a special significance.  Yet for those of us without an immediate connection to veterans, it is easy to forget.

It is important that we not forget about Veterans Day.  Every single person on this campus owes something to a veteran.  Veterans crossed the Delaware River, held the hills at Gettysburg stormed the beaches of Normandy and raised the flag over Iwo Jima.  The mere presence of our armed forces keeps us safe on a daily basis.  At the very least, we can acknowledge these contributions once a year.

Some object to the celebration of Veterans Day, equating it to a celebration of war.  This view seems increasingly prevalent in recent years, thanks to the unpopularity of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Criticism of these conflicts should not be directed at veterans, but rather at political leaders.  They are the ones who start and perpetuate these conflicts.  The veterans are the ones building roads and schools in some of the poorest regions of the world.  Criticize former-President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, not the men and women in uniform.

Veterans are one of the primary reasons the people of the United States enjoy great freedom, peace and security.  At any given moment, they are prepared to risk life and limb to protect their comrades and their country.  Today, we encourage members of the William Jewell community to acknowledge this often overlooked day of appreciation.  This does not need to be a burdensome task.  Students do not need to wave flags on their way to class or march around the Quad singing the “Star Spangled Banner.”  Just take a few seconds out of your day to acknowledge the veterans.  If you see a veteran, thank him or her.  Such simple gestures of appreciation are the least we can do for those who are willing to do so much for us.