Letter from Veteran Resource Representative

To the Veterans of Jackson College, thank you. Thank you for your courage, your sacrifices, and your belief and dedication to something greater than yourself.

While our military is often thought of in a context of war, most veterans will tell you that they risked their lives to defend our fundamental freedoms and that they value peace much more highly than war. Very few who have seen the real horror of war are anxious to rush into it. Veterans Day encourages all of us to reflect on the value of harmony in our daily interactions and lives.

Veterans confront many challenges in their lives outside of military services. Veterans face disproportionate rates of homelessness and suicide, struggle to find employment, and often must deal with devastating wounds. In many cases, post-traumatic stress and moral injuries make it difficult for them to reintegrate back into regular society. By understanding these challenges, we can all reach across the divides and make sure veterans have the best possible chance of having a healthy and fulfilling life after their service.

Veterans Day is a time to respect and celebrate the people in your life who have served in the military and have been discharged. It’s different from other holidays that focus on military members like Memorial Day, Armed Services Day, Women Veterans Day, and international holidays like Armistice Day and Remembrance Day. This is a day for Americans to thank the members of the community who have put in the time to defend the nations and the freedoms we enjoy. It’s time to appreciate the sweat and blood of close to 21 million veterans who live and work in America today. The history is important to remember, too, so that we understand why other countries celebrate Armistice Day and Remembrance Day. Americans can be proud of the role the country played in the Allied victory in WWI and know that we once celebrated that victory with the world. But there have been many conflicts since then, and many, many more veterans. This holiday serves to remind us to appreciate what we have while we have it. Don’t wait to thank a veteran. Be kind, listen, and help whenever you can. Because they already have.

This day, November 11, also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the internment of the unidentified WWI service member in Arlington National Cemetery; the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Tomb stands as the people’s memorial inspiring reflection on service, valor, and sacrifice in the cause of freedom. Since 11 November 1921 the Tomb has provided the final resting place for one of America’s unidentified World War I service members, and Unknowns from later wars were added in 1958 and 1984. The Unknown represents not one but all who have been lost on our nation’s battlefields. It was dedicated with the inscription, “Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God.”

Randall Locke,
Jackson College Veterans Resource Representative