Does Anybody Support the Troops Anymore?
As an Iraq War Veteran, I have witnessed the change in climate regarding our troops. After September Eleventh, I remember people would flock or in some cases run, just to say thank you and to shake our hands. If we were eating out in uniform, people would buy our meals no matter how much we protested it. The news would report about our heroism and losses. Mothers and wives would donate their time to help our families. Everyone was sending our boys and girls care packages. Everyone’s car had some variation of a “Support Our Troops” bumper-sticker. The congress even gave us a raise. That was then, today we are barely a passing thought in the minds of most people.
I don’t base my opinion on some sort of research I’ve conducted. I base it on my own observations. You don’t have to be a statistician to mathematically figure out that there are less yellow ribbon bumper-stickers, or that there are less news reports about the war. It wasn’t like we stopped sending troops to report about, it was that the news stations ratings showed that no one wanted to watch it.
People just got tired of hearing about the war and worrying about the troops. Who can blame them? Both wars have been going on longer than anyone thought they would. Our troops have been going on tour after tour, for almost a decade. I guess there is only so much war a nation can take. Luckily the troops can take a lot more.
It shouldn’t take an incident like the recent Fort Hood shooting to make us remember our troops. We have soldiers dieing overseas all the time. I’ve attended many memorials for our fallen soldiers in Iraq, but I didn’t see any television stations broadcasting them, I didn’t hear the President give a speech at them, and 15,000 people didn’t attend them. Maybe they should start.
Don’t let this Veteran’s Day be just another day off, or small vacation from your work. Don’t just go fishing or out to dinner with the family. Don’t just go and watch soldiers marching in the parade. Really and truly support your Troops. Donate your money to one of the many groups that help soldiers. Donate to nonprofit organizations that support U.S. Veterans that have returned from service with physical and/or psychological scars like the Soldiers Project, Defending Freedom, Blue Star Mothers, or Wounded Warrior Project. Volunteer your time at the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Help the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America advocate for our War Veterans. If nothing else, shake a soldier’s hand and thank him for serving our country on this Veteran’s Day.
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I think the war has gone on so long people become less and less "into" it. At the beginning (2003) it was HUGE and you are right the yellow ribbons ruled – I was part of that spreading. Unless you are part of a military family, the tendency today is pretty much to ignore the whole thing. Attention spans don't stick on one thing too long, and today the media is having it's new hey day with the swine flu – even the media is bored of the war! I wrote a blog about my son's deployment – check it out – www.erasingthebored.blogspot.com
I'm new to your blog (I found you through the Bloggers Unite, Veterans Day: Who Will Stand listing). I'm glad you wrote this post and shared your thoughts. I look forward to reading more of your blog.
I would like to personally thank you for your service. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for all of us. Happy Veterans Day!
Thanks for your support and please donate to one of the many Veteran's organisations.