What is a Veteran?

Today is a day of remembrance for many. For many school kids it is just another day off. A day to play and have fun. No worries, no getting up early, nothing that relates to the meaning of the day. On the surface many of us are used to the word veteran. There is veteran news man, veteran football player, or even veteran Realtor. We like veterans, as that says to most of us, experienced. We paid our dues, we want experience. Most of us know from first hand knowledge the value of youth, but also know the cost and value of experience. As we get older we realize youth has it's value, as rookies, we realize they make more mistakes that a veteran won't make. That can be from working on our car and mis-diagnosing something, to cutting the wrong way on a pass play on a football field. We realize that with experience a veteran, may cost more, but are more valuable. As a veteran Realtor, many value me because I generally don't make the mistakes the rookies make. I think the term service and dedication are other terms we associate with term. These are all good honorable qualities.

Here is the dictionary definition of what a veteran is:
-noun

 1.vet⋅er⋅an a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like: a veteran of the police force; a veteran of many sports competitions.

2.	a person who has served in a military force, esp. one who has fought in a war: a Vietnam veteran.

–adjective

3.	(of soldiers) having had service or experience in warfare: veteran troops.

4.	experienced through long service or practice; having served for a long period: a veteran member of Congress.

5.	of, pertaining to, or characteristic of veterans.

 
So today is really a dedication to the rookies mostly, some of whom we know that survived, and others who have fallen in service to our country. Those veterans have had at times, inglorious and harrowing experiences. Sometimes the country despised them, and at other times revered them. A Veteran's Day in Santa Cruz is one I am sure that has deep and divisive meanings to both sides. There is youth and idealism that  is kin to UCSC and then there are those that served in our armed forces in war times and others in times of peace. The brave soldiers, men and women do so that people may have the ability to voice their dissent on ideas. Just don't question the bravery and sacrifice that our veterans have provided so one can have a dissenting opinion of war or other things. They did not start the war, but were and are there to defend your and my right to free speech.

So do we celebrate or separate our patriotism for those who's life was on the line from those who served in times of peace? The World War II Veterans that likely saved the world from some maniacal dictators were, and are, held in high esteem, and have always been so. Theirs was a noble and selfless cause of service. Regular Joes and movie stars alike served in this effort. While Vietnam Veterans who were also drafted were generally despised for their service. I  think this was really our despise, of our government's policies on war, that we despised the poor young soldiers, rookies,who were made the butt of that. Unfortunately, they were doing a bidding of their president in an unpopular and pointless war. Much the same as our fine young men and women went to war for our president in Iraq and further in Afghanistan and other regions in the world. Hopefully those will have some meaning in the larger context of world history from the enslavement of religion and stateless sponsors of terror.

We solicit our youth to our volunteer military with incentives such as money for education, and other benefits. Many other country's require military service, we don't.Our youth that enlist do so willingly. Sometimes due to economic times,it seems like the best of the worst choices. We know that the young are the most likely to join as they have no experience in the general work force and are often good candidates for the military. So those that join and serve in either active duty or support get my respect. They have at times, given the ultimate sacrifice, and at others been savaged by the horrific weaponry or disease from war. Nowadays not as many are dying, but in even greater numbers they are suffering from traumatic brain injuries and loss of limbs in heretofore unseen numbers.

So for all those before and those now serving my hat is off to you and I greatly admire your courage to face things not faced by us civilians. Thank you.