A Reflection on Veterans Day
This morning, I thought about my dad. I had been thinking about him all weekend and even posted his photos on FB. But on Monday, as I sat in Snidow Chapel waiting for the Veterans Day Service to begin, I actually thought about him. I thought about a 17-year-old who begged his mom to sign a paper allowing him to enlist before his 18th birthday. I thought about a young Marine whose unit served as human test subjects for radiation and Agent Orange. I thought about a 22-year-old Marine serving as an embassy guard in Germany. I thought about a married Marine, a dad of three young children, who did two tours in Vietnam. I thought about a young dad who returned from Vietnam, changed and different. I thought about a young Marine who became an officer, in spite not having a college education, following the death of many young officers in Vietnam. I thought about a dad I did not understand as a teenager because he was not transparent and often seemed frightening. I thought about a dad who was never the same after his discharge, a dad who never could find his place in the world after his time in the Marine Corps. I thought about a dad who died at 53 from complications following his military service. I thought about all the things I knew about my dad and all the things I did not. I thought about the stories adult children tell each other when they are trying to understand their dad. For several moments, I thought and I wept.
During Monday’s service, Colonel Richard Moore ’63, U.S. Army, retired, spoke about life as a Vietnam Veteran. In an authentic, transparent fashion, he shared his private, secret thoughts about what it meant to return home following a war no one wanted to mention. Colonel Moore spoke about what it meant to take life and then live with that knowledge. He carefully shared the horrors of war and the shame of still being alive when so many were not. As Colonel Moore spoke, I began to understand my dad. I had wondered about these things he mentioned, but his words validated my thoughts. There were others like my dad. Others who wrestled with taking life and what it meant to be alive when thousands were not. Others who defended their country in admirable ways, sacrificing their lives and families for a country that turned their backs on them when they returned stateside. Others who never found their place and were never the same.
Why do we observe Veterans Day at University of Lynchburg? We observe Veterans Day because we are family. Over the years, countless Hornets put themselves in harm’s way for our freedom and safety. Some paid the ultimate price. Some Hornets went to war and returned home haunted by the horrors of war. We observe Veterans Day not simply to remember and honor their sacrifice, and the sacrifice of other veterans, but to be inspired to advocate for veteran rights, services and medical/mental health care.
We also observe Veterans Day at the university for our students, faculty and staff who served/who serve in the military. We are grateful for their service. We observe Veterans Day because we know that rituals speak to us in places we don’t often frequent, providing insight, understanding and healing.