Veterans Day
Yesterday was Veterans Day. This one has brought to me more thought than many Veterans Days before. I have in the past pondered the meaning of the day beyond the holiday novelty of it, but in the past I have had little connection to it. This year, however, my little brother is a veteran. It is weird to think of a veteran as younger than me. In the past, a veteran was an old man, abused by war, and then by his fellow countrymen on his return, and then again by his government- which remains lax in its monetary appreciation of his sacrifice. In those times, too, the word “hero” had a different meaning as well. In those days, the heroes of my brother and I were on-screen fighting aliens with big guns. Now it is my brother who is my hero, a veteran of our country. A young man, abused by war. This time we will respect our veterans.
To my brother, Brandon, my hero: Happy Veterans Day. Thank you for defending freedom and fighting the good fight. I’m grateful you are safe at home now. Take care, bro.
November 12, 2003
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