On Veterans’ Day, we owe gratitude to all of our citizens who serve and have served in the armed forces. Military service provides a number of benefits, including the opportunity to serve at military bases around the world. The U.S. Navy slogan for recruitment used to be “Join the Navy and see the world.” That sounds like fun, doesn’t it? In addition, military service provides the following:
- A regular paycheck
- Food and housing allowance
- 30 days of annual paid vacation
- VA housing benefits
- VA tuition assistance (G.I. bill)
- Adjusted college credit and credit-by-exams
- Lifetime pension for retirement
- Life insurance with survivor benefits
The brave part of all these benefits is one word in that last item in my list: “survivor.”
Members of the military know when they enlist that they risk service in active combat, including injury or death for their country. Because they do this, I believe that our military deserves everything we can give them. Yes, they receive a regular paycheck, and yes, it’s steady work, but the poverty level right now is $33,000 for a family of four, and a Private First Class earns a $34,000 base salary, whether single or with a family. Would you risk your life for that? In my opinion, veterans deserve the GI bill, VA health care, and a zero-down payment mortgage. Ted didn’t die while serving in the Army, but for the risk he and all veterans took when they enlisted, I think they deserve the priority parking space at the grocery store, the 10 percent discount Lowe’s and Home Depot offer veterans, and the free food some restaurants offer once a year on Veterans’ Day.
All of my eleven uncles served in World War II, as did my father; my brother served in the Air Force; and my husband served in the Army.
My father, Wilton (aka Pete), was an Army Air Force pilot in World War II. He flew 70 missions in Europe and Africa and received a Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a “full bird colonel.”
My brother was an Air Force ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) cadet in college, then enlisted in the Air Force as a First Lieutenant when he graduated. He served as a B-52 navigator, and the photo below was taken when he received his wings. After being stationed in Thailand, he was assigned to Sawyer AFB in Upper Michigan. During a training mission, he and seven other crew members died in a B-52 crash near that base during a severe blizzard.
My husband, Ted, enlisted in the U.S. Army after his high school graduation and served at Camp Kaiser in South Korea, then at Fort Benning, GA. While traveling in a Jeep at Fort Benning, the Jeep rolled over and Ted was trapped under it with battery acid dripping on his leg, requiring a hospital stay and skin grafting. The photo below shows him dressed for his honor guard duties at Fort Benning.
I’m very proud of all my family members who served in the military. Thank you for your service.