Veteran's Day by COL Jack Moroney

[Team Sergeant]

You are missed COL Moroney.

November 11, 2007

By JACK MORONEY

Veteran's Day means a lot to some, a little to others, nothing to many, and is often confused with Memorial Day by most.

While it is a day to honor those men and women who served in this nation's military, it is how the veteran perceives this day that might surprise those who, for one reason or another, never wore their country's uniform.

There are two distinct groups of veterans: those who served a tour in the military and then left to pursue civilian life, and those who chose the military as a profession and remained until retirement.

While service to one's country can often be a life-altering event for either group, I have found that it is the military retiree whose metamorphosis is most complete.

Those who serve and elect to return to civilian life are still basically who they were before they entered military service. There are exceptions of course, but those who return to civilian pursuits are once again the teacher, the mechanic, the professional business person and easily integrated back into society as a member of a civilian community.

The person that retires from active duty has no such identity, very rarely has ties to any civilian community and has learned a hard lesson that you make but very few close friends in the military. He is best defined not by who he was as a civilian but what he did in the military. It is the common thread that binds us all into that band of brothers that have stood for and with each other through indescribable experiences that defy understanding by those who were not witness to those events.

The more elite and demanding the units in which the retiree served, the greater the loss of his connection to civilian identity because there is just no parallel personal or professional civilian category into which he easily fits.

Things change over time, but over decades nothing is recognizable to most returning veterans. Many retirees' chosen path is not akin to a job but rather an all-consuming profession requiring total commitment to each other, their unit and the mission incurring significant, and sometimes unimaginable, physiological, psychological and personal costs.

Despite the portrayals in movies, there are no motivational sound tracks in the background and no glorious visions of striving for the greater good of God and country, just plain gut-wrenching emotions, pain, effort and selflessness to help each other get through to the next event.

I find it amusing that many folks who wish to honor veteran's or "support the troops" do so in blissful ignorance thinking that those of us that chose to serve stood on freedom's frontier at the behest of some ignominious military leader when the truth is that the military is the last card played by the politicians when all other elements of national power have failed. Civilians do not seem to understand that they have been stakeholders all along in the events experienced by veterans because of the very politicians that they have voted in or out of office. I have always thought that the best way to honor a veteran would be to have the entire Congress mustered on the veranda of Lee's Mansion within Arlington National Cemetery. Standing there they can see Washington, D.C., but in the process they have to over look the headstones of thousands of veterans lying in mute testimony to the folly of bad political decisions, political bickering and personal agendas.

It is not the veteran who needs Veteran's Day. For many of us the pride, the shadows, the pain and the tattered memories are with us every day. Veteran's Day is really for everyone other than the veteran so they never forget that we are still walking among them trying to be part of their lives although we have all willingly spent a good portion of ours by taking up the torch for those who could not or would not serve.

Jack Moroney is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel who served in Vietnam. He was an Army service member from 1965 through 1993.

[PedOncoDoc]

Thanks for posting this TS. It is enlightening to hear perceptions of Veteran's day from those who serve(d).

And thank you to all who have served and sacrified, and to those who continue to do so.

[SF_BHT]

Thanks TS

Col Jack summed it up perfectly....

[Dragbag036]

A great read on a day of remembrance. Thanks to all my Brothers and Sisters who serve. Some people only have one family, I have the luxury of having two.

DB

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

Thanks TS

Col Jack summed it up perfectly....

Absolutely..............

Big Teddy

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Veteran's Day is really for everyone other than the veteran so they never forget that we are still walking among them trying to be part of their lives although we have all willingly spent a good portion of ours by taking up the torch for those who could not or would not serve.

Team Sergeant, thanks for posting this timely wisdom from Col. Moroney. I never fail to learn something from his writing.

Thank you, Veterans, for serving our Country.

Susan

[cetheridge]

TS.....Thank you for posting.

The Colonel had a way with words that exhibits his wisdom.

This is the best meaning of Veterans Day that I have ever read.

Thank you to my Brothers and Sisters who have served/sacrificed and now serve and sacrifice for our country.

[f50lrrp]

TS

[Peregrino]

Thank you Sir. A simple prayer - That his successors carry the torch, instilling wisdom and providing mentorship as well as he did.

To my brothers in arms, and all who have honorably served shall be my brothers - I raise the glass in silent tribute.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,

(Excerpt, Henry V, “St. Crispin’s Day Speech”, William Shakespeare)

[echoes]

Those words are timeless.

Thank you all for your Service, it is never ever forgotten.

Holly

[Gypsy]

Oh Colonel you are missed. Thanks for the post, TS.

To our Veterans, you have my deepest gratitude.

[SF18C]

I sure do miss COL Moroney's wise words and advise around here!

Thanks TS!

[Barbarian]

Whenever I say "Thank you" to a veteran, it never feels like thanks enough. Words are indeed cheap, and once a year is far too seldom an occasion for us civilians to remember what you men and women do/have done for the greater good. When I have more than just my thanks to give, I always pass it on, but until I have more to share again, you all have my gratitude and appreciation. Hope you've all had a good Veteran's Day. And again...... thank you.

[DesertRat]

That is one of the most enlightening and inspiring things I have ever read. Really puts things into perspective. I always thought that I understood my responsibilities as a Citizen. Thank you for posting this.

[Team Sergeant]

RIP Sir.

Great article.

Have a good day brothers and sisters!