Posted on Sunday, November 9, 2025
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by The Association of Mature American Citizens
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0 Comments
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Here in America, November 11th is the date on the calendar that marks Veterans Day. It is a day of recognition for those who donned a uniform in at least one of the armed services of our military – be it the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, or National Guard. It is one of a few federal holidays dedicated to acknowledging, remembering, and understanding our military, those who serve in it, and the sacrifices they make to defend our country and way of life. And while the original Armistice Day (which eventually became Veterans Day here in the U.S.) commemorated the cessation of hostilities in World War I, for many veterans, Veterans Day is a day that, at its core, simply reminds us all of why some choose to take the oath.
This Veterans Day falls on the eve of America’s 250th birthday – a grand event set to arrive in a half-year from now on July 4th. So far this fall, several of our military services have celebrated their 250th birthdays, as the Army, Navy, and Marines trace their origins to the year before the Declaration of Independence. So, the honoring of military service is undoubtedly alive and well. But this Veterans Day 2025 – in a world defined by endless noise, social media inanity, political squabbling, marketing hype, frenzied media, division, and strife – it might be a good time to take note of why some choose to join the ranks.
America is a large and diverse nation, and so the reasons why tens of thousands of citizens commission or enlist every year are quite varied. Many join out of pure patriotic duty – a reason which, for example, drove many WWII veterans to join after Pearl Harbor; the culture and the times were different then. Legions of others served because they were drafted – conscripted without much choice. Many draftees are still proud of their service, if not for any other reason than they did what they were told to do and didn’t shirk their duty…doing one’s duty…a commitment of honor if nothing else. In the post-Vietnam era, many have joined out of tradition or to venerate or respect elder generations who served. Others sign their names on the dotted line for adventure, challenge, and self-improvement. Some join simply because they have limited options, and the military can provide a solid foundation for building a life. Many veterans across generations readily admit the military “straightened them out.” For many veterans, the decision to serve is influenced by a combination of factors.
But irrespective of motivation, personal circumstances, or animating factors, a successful tour in uniform still produces the same end goal: an effective, patriotic military of citizen-soldiers defending our nation. At the end of the day, having a military is a necessary requirement to first establish and to further protect a nation – and quite simply, someone has to do it. It is, in fact, pretty obvious that without an element of the citizenry’s will to answer the call to arms, we wouldn’t have a nation. This all may seem elementary – and it is often repeated so much that it runs the risk of losing effect – but military service really cuts to the core of what it means to stand up and dedicate at least part of one’s life to furtherance of the country’s existence.
With all of that said, all American veterans have at least one thing in common. Regardless of whether they served one day or many decades, officer or enlisted, with all motivations and across all demographics, they ALL raised their hands, took the oath, and gave some part of their time and lives so that all Americans could live in peace, with value, opportunity, and freedom. They all said, “Yes – this is a worthy cause;” “Yes – I will stand beside her (our country);” “Yes – I will serve with you and make this sacred commitment.” And after this commitment was made, the fates of those who serve vary, but invariably, they sacrifice time away from family, wealth, prosperity, career advancement, and many other liberties to answer the call.
Some of us are still on active duty – at home and abroad – and we recognize them on Armed Forces Day. And some have made the ultimate sacrifice in their worthy service – and we remember them on Memorial Day. For those of us who are still here and have completed our military service, we are grateful to be remembered on Veterans Day. This year —or any year —we invite you to say hello to a veteran, sit down for a cup of coffee, and thank them for their sacrifice.
This post reflects the views of the AMAC Foundation Veterans Outreach Program (FVOP) as assembled by Connor Martin, a Marine Veteran and key FVOP collaborator.
Read the full article here