A real bargain

by Karen Balice-Gregory

Veterans Day has come and gone ... the sales are over ... for some an extra day off work ... but many of us probably spent little time on the significance of it.

If you have a family member or a friend in the Armed Services you are living proof of the sacrifices, and if you have lost a family member or friend in any war you are sensitive to the perils and aftermath. Even though we enjoy the freedoms that we have because of those who have fought and are still fighting, we often forget or take it for granted.

We see it on the news every day. We read about it in the paper. We have access to just about every detail of war or conflict happening in the world but it's difficult to grasp the enormity of the ramifications, let alone feel as if we can do anything about it. The cost alone in terms of lives lost or maimed (physically, mentally, emotionally and morally) coupled with the enormous amount of money borrowed and spent is mind boggling. We try to understand the premise of war and our country keeps committing to bringing about peace in the world by engaging in it, but there appears to be no end in sight for winning this battle for Human Rights.

We Baby Boomers have grown up in the midst of parents and grandparents who survived or fought in wars before many of us were born. Many of our friends, family and classmates were drafted in the 70's to fight in Viet Nam.

I remember quite clearly the day that we huddled around our televisions when the numbers were drawn dictating who had an unlucky birth date and who might be spared. There was a mad dash at the time to join the National Guard or Reserve, apply for a deferment or just prepare for the worst. People thinking about getting married, having children, going to school or starting a career felt pressure to either escalate or deescalate their plans. Protesters were fueling the fires and patriotism at the time was being questioned if not totally redefined. The 60's revolution harbored a “peace baby” mentality that evolved into a panic situation stirring riots and fostering mandates that confused, agitated and motivated the masses on all sides.

Personally, I went through many stages of acknowledgment, ambivalence, appreciation and grief that would last for decades. I saw death though the eyes of a classmate who's brother returned in a casket displayed at the local funeral home under a plastic bubble due to the prevailing fear that even a corpse might spread disease among us. I sent packages to a friend fighting in the jungle and greeted him at my door when he returned to thank my father for his support during a wartime predicament.

It has taken many years for the snapshots in my head of those times to catch up with the reality of the pain and loss that people in the military endure. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is how experts eventually described the chaos that takes place in persons brain when they engage in war or something like it, but so far no one has figured out how to alleviate it.

Our Veterans, who have given the most for our freedom, are still fighting for the respect they deserve when it comes to getting the best equipment, training, and supplies as well as superior care and treatment upon their return. Their families should be recognized for fostering the strength of their loved ones as well as supporting them against painful odds.

Celebrating Veterans Day goes way beyond making it a Federal Holiday, having a parade in their honor or, last and least, claiming a department store sale has anything to do with any war except the ones fought for the best bargain. Now that I think of it, I guess there is a correlation between bargain basement shopping and Veterans Day.

Our country has received a literal “bang for our buck” over the years. We continue to have citizens who step up to the plate and give and give and give without expecting much in return. Our respect, gratitude and support is a small price to pay especially given the fact that our Veterans are ultimately picking up the tab. Thanks for a job well done.