Our veterans and their unwavering service
Members of the Ora E. Paul American Legion Post No. 24 march through Woodstock, Vermont, on Wednesday, on their way to take part in a Veterans Day Service in front of the courthouse. (Susan Ford Photo)
Today, many Americans are concerned about the future of the country, and at this important moment, Wednesday brought a time to remember our veterans — and a time of reflection.
In 2020, Veterans Day gave us a chance to step back and honor these heroes and the democracy they defended. Most importantly, we reflected on the innumerable sacrifices they made to protect our freedom. We have the deepest gratitude for all they've done. Their service is a tremendous source of inspiration and honor that underpins our national identity, and they exemplify dedication to a country and its people.
They fought "to secure, protect and advance the ideals on which our nation was founded," Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said in a statement on Wednesday. The work of our veterans reminds us that it takes action to defend those ideals.
“Today, it’s important for all of us to remember that those principles — life, liberty, equality, democracy and justice — have never been guaranteed, " Scott said. "Instead they’ve been hard won by those we’re honoring today, through the selfless acts of heroism and the day-to-day efforts of America’s veterans."
Those lessons from our veterans are particularly instructive today, as our union struggles under the weight of political strife.
“As we honor them today, let’s remember what patriotism truly looks like; let’s use their example to unite our nation in this time of deep division; and let’s do all we can to live up to their sacrifice, their service and their unwavering commitment to freedom," Scott said.
The key part of that call for unity is the word "unwavering". No concept could better describe the dedication of our veterans. Today, it's more important than ever that we all embrace opportunities to build unity, with that same unwavering, courageous commitment.
We each have a role to play in the process of overcoming the political divisions pushing at the core of our democracy. In local communities, we can take steps to start those conversations and keep them going in a compassionate, productive way which helps society. Let's strive to understand each other better and build bridges to meaningful solutions. Some days it may seem impossible, but our veterans have certainly accomplished goals that, at one time, appeared impossible. Today, our country needs us.
— Gareth Henderson
