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An
Editorial
by
VFW
National
Commander
Glen
Gardner
Remembering
America’s
warriors
is
often
an
afterthought
for
many
Americans.
It’s
about
time
Nov.
11 is
paid
its
proper
respect.
Veterans
Day,
once
a
widely
celebrated
holiday,
is
increasingly
forgotten
by
many
Americans.
One
need
only
look
at
the
poor
turnouts
at
ceremonies
on
Nov.
11.
With
the
percentage
of
citizens
who
have
worn
a
uniform
rapidly
declining,
appreciation
for
the
sacrifices
made
by
veterans
is
correspondingly
diminishing.
To
help
counter
this
trend,
VFW
has
long
promoted
Veterans
Day
as an
opportunity
to
educate
the
public
as to
the
meaning
of
this
significant
time
each
November.
This
task
can
best
be
accomplished
by
explaining
the
five
“Ws.”
Who.
As a
nation,
we
remember
all
Americans
who
served
on
active
duty
in
the
armed
forces.
While
those
who
died
always
remain
prominent
in
our
memories,
they
have
a
special
time
of
mourning
reserved
for
Memorial
Day.
Veterans
Day
is an
opportunity
to
publicly
commemorate
the
contributions
of
living
veterans.
What.
Collective
as
well
as
individual
contributions
to
the
nation’s
defense
are
what
we
are
remembering.
The
outcome
of
any
given
military
campaign
is
irrelevant
here—it’s
the
sacrifices
made
at
the
behest
of
the
country
that
are
important.
Where.
Across
the
land,
the
grounds
of
virtually
every
state
capitol
and
county
courthouse
host
monuments,
memorials
and
plaques
honoring
those
who
served.
They
date
back
as
far
as
the
American
Revolution
and
are
as
recent
as
the
Iraq
War.
But
paying
homage
to
veterans
need
not
necessarily
be in
a
public
place.
Every
private
home
also
should
serve
this
purpose
when
appropriate.
When.
For
some
Americans,
remembering
veterans
is a
daily
act.
But
as a
nation,
it is
essential
that
we
preserve
the
integrity
of
Nov.
11 as
that
one
extra-special
day
for
the
American
people
as a
whole
to
pause
in
silence
or
demonstrate
public
recognition.
Why.
Remembering
gives
true
meaning
to
sacrifice
and
service.
Millions
of
Americans’
lives
were
forever
altered
because
they
donned
a
uniform
to
protect
the
freedoms
and
rights
we
take
for
granted.
We
owe
an
eternal
debt
of
gratitude
to
them.
And
acknowledging
Veterans
Day
is
the
time
that
debt
comes
due.
It’s
our
way
of
keeping
faith.
All
of
this
is
particularly
relevant
now,
with
the
nation
at
war
in
Afghanistan
and
Iraq.
Nearly
4,800
Americans
have
been
killed
in
the
two
war
zones
to
date.
Approximately
1.7
million
tours
have
been
logged
so
far
with
600,000
individuals
having
served
there.
About
325,000
of
them
have
used
VA
benefits
and
services.
Many,
present
as
well
as
past,
have
displayed
exceptional
courage
on
the
battlefield,
as
this
month’s
issue
clearly
illustrates.
The
23.8
million
veterans
living
in
America
deserve
the
recognition.
It is
often
forgotten
that
legislative
battles
were
waged
over
this
day
and
its
earlier
version
called
Armistice
Day
in
1926,
1938,
1954
and
throughout
the
1970s.
Let’s
not
take
its
value
for
granted.
Glen
Gardner
Glen
Gardner
was
elected
Commander-in-Chief
of
the
Veterans
of
Foreign
Wars
Aug.
21,
2008,
at
the
VFW
109th
national
convention,
held
in
Orlando,
Fla.
A
former
Marine,
Gardner
served
as an
aircraft
mechanic
with
the
1st
Marine
Aircraft
Wing,
Marine
Aircraft
Group
12 in
Chu
Lai,
Vietnam
from
1968-1969.
He
was
awarded
the
Combat
Action
Ribbon,
Vietnam
Service
Medal,
Good
Conduct
Medal,
the
National
Defense
Service
Medal,
Vietnam
Campaign
Medal
with
device
and
the
Vietnamese
Cross
of
Gallantry.
A
resident
of
Round
Rock,
Texas,
Gardner
has
been
involved
with
the
VFW
for
nearly
30
years,
first
as a
member
of
VFW
Post
2993
in
Olathe,
Kan.,
and
later,
a
member
of
Post
3359
in
Garland,
Texas.
He
has
held
numerous
VFW
officer
positions,
including
adjutant/quartermaster
for
the
Department
of
Texas.
He
also
was
instrumental
in
forming
the
Texas
Coalition
of
Veterans
Organizations,
chairing
the
600,000-member
group
for
15
years.
Source:
Veterans
of
Foreign
Wars
of
the
United
States
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