Editorial: A day for honoring veterans

Friday, Nov. 11, 2005 | 8:19 a.m.

A cartoon many years ago showed two American soldiers during a combat operation. As they braved fire, one said to the other, "You know, after all of this is over, they'll probably name a holiday for us." The second soldier answered, "Yeah, and everyone will get the day off except us."

The cartoon brought a laugh, but it also brought forward a serious reminder of the sacrifices our troops make on behalf of the country.

The first soldier was right. Nov. 11 was declared as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I and to honor our troops who fought in it. It is now known as Veterans Day, which we celebrate today. We do so in deep appreciation for the sacrifices of all the troops who have honorably served throughout our country's history.

Perhaps the toughest part for many members of our military forces, particularly during wartime, is leaving their families behind for an unknown future. This intensely personal sacrifice is one among many.

Many veterans will remember heading for their training base in a "cattle truck" -- crammed in with a hundred or so others. They remember spilling out to the roaring of drill sergeants, whose job it was to break the trainees of their civilian ways and rebuild them into disciplined fighters.

This would be accomplished through 18-hour days of mostly outdoor training, no matter the weather extremes. Veterans will remember Sundays, their one day off during training, and seeing even the loudest, most profane and "gung-ho" member of their unit sprawled on his bunk, writing a letter home to his mom and dad, or his girlfriend, or his kid brother who needed some advice.

On this day for honoring our troops, non-veterans might want to imagine this scene -- a uniformed man or woman, hundreds of miles away from family, finally finding a moment to write a letter home. It's a scene that dramatizes why men and women serve -- to protect their families and nation.

Also to be imagined is the day basic and advanced training ends and the soldier, Marine, sailor or airman packs his duffel bag for his permanent duty station. Life becomes a little better then -- the recruit has made it through the hardest training, feels proud of the accomplishment and can be joined by family. But the sacrifice continues, as the training is never over in the military. Now it is time to become proficient in a specialized area of combat or support. Again, long hours set in amid hardship -- the housing is Spartan, meals are eaten on the fly, the pay is low and time for family and recreation is short.

Some of the hardships and long hours and sacrifices are endured with super-human resolve. But our troops have the same blood flowing through them as the rest of us. Someone once observed that troops have an inalienable right to gripe. It's a right they cherish every day.

So what drives them to complete their missions? Honor. It is an honor to serve your country. It's hard to withstand a dust storm while on duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, or go on patrol knowing the danger from improvised explosive devices. It is sometimes hard to keep your weapon in firing condition while moving forward against the enemy in the most miserable and dangerous conditions imaginable. But you keep moving forward because to do otherwise would be to let down your country and the troops who have gone before you.

These are the veterans and troops we honor today. The ones who kept moving forward, the ones now who keep moving forward, the ones whose sacrifice has earned every good thought we can send their way today and on every other day.

The Sun originally wrote this editorial for Veterans Day 2003. It is presented again today with minor changes.