War Movies & Wine

On this day in the U.S. we honor all who have served in the military, whether in time of war or peace. Other countries have similar days - Remembrance Day in Commonwealth countries, Armistice Day in several European countries & New Zealand.

The U.S. Military is 100% volunteer, and has been for over forty years. People who join the U.S. military do so for a wide variety of reasons - some feel a sense of duty, an obligation, to serve the country by being part of the defense forces, some are carrying on a family tradition, some join up to make use of the educational opportunities, some enlist in the hopes that the military will "straighten them out," and some are just using the military to get out of an ugly situation at home.

Whatever the reason, each and everyone of them take an oath that includes the words "I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

That's a heady sentence right there. It tells you that, if required, you're going to have to use force, possibly deadly force, against other humans.

And that is, IMHO, the single worst thing one human can be asked to do to another. 

But the world we live in is a dangerous place, and the single nicest person you have ever known has known the fear of being vulnerable, of being at risk, of being threatened. There will always be predators, there will always be megalomaniac despots with delusions of grandeur. It's not a Hollywood plot device for spy flicks, it's reality. 

So, if you get a chance to say thanks to a Veteran today, do so. It's a helluva job they have, in times of war and peace.