veteran's day
for your consideration, i offer the next article for the newspaper i write for. its an opinion about veteran's day. any references to any school are ficticious and you should forget about them faster than jesus can forgive sins.
One of the first things that I can ever remember noticing about my grandfather, or Papa as we called him, was the dark green ink on his right forearm in the shape of an eagle. I would often times try and catch a glimpse of it while he rolled up his sleeves to chop wood, or while he slipped on his heavy coat to go out in the rain. I was intrigued by what that eagle might stand for. It wasn't until after he had passed away that I really began to understand why he had that green eagle on his arm, surrounded by a wreath of stars with arrows and stalks of wheat in its claws.
It turns out my Papa ran away at the ripe old age of 16 to join the US Navy and fight the Japanese in the Western Theater of WWII. It wasn't long after he was aboard ship in Portland, Oregon that he and some Navy buddies were out on the town one night and woke up the next morning with aching heads and fresh tattoos. Not too many days after this, and just before the ship was to head to sea, Papa's parents showed up and took their no-good, lying, tattooed son back to Cottage Grove, Oregon to finish his last two years of High School.
There were many battles yet to be fought in my Papa's life, but none of them ever turned out to be against the Japanese. That tattoo became a symbol however for the love of country in my Papa's heart. There was not a day when respects weren't paid by him in honor of those who fought and those who died in hopes that we might remain free.
Its this that brings me to the main point of what I am trying to get at. Hundreds of thousands of men and women have fought, and many of have died so that you and I-American Citizen or not- could be herein this land of the free. The very possibility that Our University could exist outside of the United States is slim, but we do exist here, and are able to because of the sacrifice of years and lives of many men and women.
November 11th is Veteran's Day. Unlike Memorial Day when we are to honor strictly our war dead (though we mostly honor our need for vacations), Veteran's Day is set aside to remember the sacrifice of the dead in addition to focusing on those veterans still living. Many may conjure up images of old codgers sitting in nursing homes wearing black Navy hats with destroyers on them, or ancient wrinkled men with RANGER tattooed on their arm - but veterans are a broader group than the aging war veterans we often think of first.
I personally know several former U.S. armed services personell that attend or work right here at Biola University. Im not going to name names, or write this article to point out the great accomplishments of our former Biola's but to draw your attention reader to a greater concept. These men and women, men and women just like you and I, have given up their time, and some of them have even given up their earthly lives, so that you and I could sit here today. Stop whatever you are doing and think about that for a second.
In light of the sacrifice of so many, whether you agree with the current US foreign policy or not, it would be downright shameful to not thank a veteran this year. This brings up the question, how does Biola as a community thank the men and women who protect our freedoms? My answer is; not very well.
Let's be honest, did you know that next Tuesday is Veteran's Day? I bet you didn't, because there will be no mention of it around here that day. It is unfortunate that a community so founded on love and the pursuit of knowledge would neglect such a meaningful gesture as honoring those who have labored to protect Her. Though Biola may not lift a collective finger to recognize the meaningful sacrifice of so many, that's no excuse for you and I to do the same.
This next Tuesday, take some time out to think about the sacrifice of those who have fought for our freedoms. Praise God for them in your quiet time. Pray for protection and guidance for those who are still serving around the world and here at home. Take a walk over to La Mirada City Hall and look at the Flags that fly there; one for our Nation, and one for those whom have never made it home. Men and women, just like you and me. Whether you agree with foreign policy or not, those men and women are just like you and me. That's something that ought not to be over looked or forgotten. They will not be forgotten.
Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America, do hereby call upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954, as Veterans Day. On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.
they will not be forgotten--->
