I Salute You

Remembrance Day is a tough day for many who have lost loved ones because of the horrors of war and it’s hard for those who fought and survived it. I can’t imagine what it’s like to fight the enemy so that the country will be safe from countries who want to see our freedom taken away and who want to see us dead.

What goes on in the heads of men and women who make a conscious decision to risk their lives for me and you? I was going to enlist after I broke up with a boy and when the recruiter gave me some information I got scared, left, and never went back to enlist. So, I know damn well you must have moxie to join the services.

Many of those courageous people came back and couldn’t let go of what they saw. Some of them developed PTSD, reliving the horrors of what they saw or did every day – without a break. Some of them are no longer with us because they needed to stop the never-ending torment. Trust me, they weren’t weak like some people think and they deserve our respect no matter what anyone else thinks.

There are too many veterans living on the street. Is this how we thank them for their service? Why is the government allowing this? Why aren’t they provided with housing and a generous living allowance?

Did you know there are thousands of American veterans who were paid to enlist or re-enlist who were told to pay back the bonuses they were given? Some of them have over $15,000 to pay back! Many of them can’t afford to pay it back and are suffering financial hardships because of the ‘mistake’ by the Pentagon. In my opinion there’s something rotten going on and it’s the soldiers who are paying the price – again.

Too many soldiers didn’t make it back to their families alive. They died for you and for me and they didn’t have to lose their lives for us – they wanted to fight for our freedom knowing they may never see their loved ones again. That says something which should never be forgotten.

So today is not ‘just’ a day to wear a poppy, it’s a day to remember why you still live in a free country, and it’s a day to remember those brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to make sure yours is intact.

To those amazing men and women who fought for me –

                                               Thank you for your service!