Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Sun editorial:

Veterans Day 2008

America takes a day to honor the troops and the values they fight to defend

Today the nation recognizes Veterans Day, a holiday born of Armistice Day in 1918, the end of combat in World War I. In the 90 years since, the technology of war has changed drastically, but the mission of the combatants has remained the same.

Members of the American military continue to serve bravely around the world, trained and ready to put themselves in danger.

The current military is made up of volunteer members, many of them serving part-time in the Reserve. Those who sign up often cite their patriotism or their belief in the country’s founding principles as reasons for joining.

That speaks well of the country, as does the country’s reaction to those serving in the military, which is engaged in the war on terrorism and mired in Afghanistan and Iraq. The American public rightly wants an end to the war in Iraq, which was based on the Bush administration’s false claims. The war has come at far too great a price. Nearly 4,200 Americans have died in the war in Iraq.

It is notable that although the war and the Bush administration’s actions are highly unpopular, American citizens have done the right thing, honoring military members while opposing the war. Voters made that clear by electing to the presidency Barack Obama, who pledged to pull American troops out of Iraq.

Using the ballot is the correct way to accomplish that. The right to elect leaders is one of the rights American troops have fought to defend.

Today, Americans should recognize those who died in service, as well as all the current and former members of the military.

We are thankful we have a country where there are people who want to serve by volunteering for the military. We are also grateful that the ideals the country was founded upon are worthy of their service.

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