Those who have fought and died have done so for an ideal. I've said it before and I'll say it again: soldiers don't choose the war, they choose to serve their country. Presidents and Congresses and Parliaments and Legislators choose the war and where to send our young women and young men to fight and die.
Shame on those leaders for betraying our soldiers by not living up to their end of the bargain when our people come back broken and torn mentally and physically.
Shame on those leaders for using our soldiers like toys for their own selfish agendas.
Shame on those leaders for promising better benefits for veterans to the press and silently voting against them in session.
This bit of Kipling seems very apropos this year:
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!
Thank you, veterans, for your service to your country. I'm sorry that your country too often does not return the favor to you.
