Veterans Day 2020

The attached chart gives us much food for thoughts to ponder on this Veterans Day, but they cannot tell the whole story. In fact, I think it's impossible to find the words or images that can tell the whole Veteran story, especially the COMBAT Veterans story.

Being "Killed In Action' leaves it to one's imagination how, but their fellow Veterans know and it's so inhuman and horrible to witness, whether it was in the air or at sea or on land, and it's impossible to ever forget. No human being should ever have/had to see their fellow Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airborne die, often unbelievably horribly. This includes those who went missing forever or were Prisoners Of War, which in some cases was a form of daily torture. I close this paragraph with a sincere tip of my hat to the Medics' contributions to save and salvage other's lives, often at risk of losing theirs.

Which brings me to those, not killed, but incredibly damaged, often for the rest of their lives. Some blinded, some losing multiple limbs, too frequently all limbs, some mentally/emotionally severely damaged, which is to be understood. In some cases the damage leading to suicide.

And last, but not least, is the anguish of the Veterans' parents, siblings, spouses, children. No one can speak for them, only themselves.

Of all the possible catastrophic tragedies on this planet, earthquakes, epidemics, etc., none are more avoidable or indeed stupid, than war, because they are not nature-created, but people-created, the same people who will die, as well as those who defend against the war-makers.

I profoundly respect all who run to, not from, possible harm to save others, such as our Fire Fighters, Police, Medical Professionals, for it is life's most noble act of unselfishness and courage.

And Veterans are on that list.