today, tomorrow

Today we celebrate the virtues of victors, men and women who have risked life, limb, spirit and soul to serve, protect and represent our nation. We fly flags, prepare parades, salute and signify the accomplishments of warriors who without a second doubt fought wars with honor and integrity. Today is Veterans Day and we recount the heroics of family, friends and even strangers who have demonstrated valor, dignity grit and determination to fight for freedom. Today we hold high the actions of those we have lost to battle, comfort those who have come home wounded and worn, and embrace those who have provided more then possibly ever expected. That is today!

Tomorrow we will try and remember the sacrifices of our current crop of Veterans. We will continue to find men in tattered uniforms on the streets some with signs asking for donations, some with signs of depression not able to ask for much if anything. We will glance at the commercials asking for contributions so those returning home from battles in locations hard to pronounce not quite whole can try to walk, talk, love again. We will read about the bureaucracy  hindered by greedy politicians, uncaring administrators which on paper seem to be the answer but in reality ask more questions. Tomorrow we will not see in plane sight the anguish, anger, frustration and fears of men and women who we love to call hero’s but loath to really help. Tomorrow we will debate the necessity for war, evaluate American exceptionalism, insisting that we send someone else’s kid to fight our battles. Tomorrow we will will as a nation forget how unique, special every man and woman who was drafted, enlisted or volunteered really is and just who they were and are.

I am never quite sure why what happens today is sometimes forgotten when tomorrow arrives. I am never quite sure why we provide parades today but prefer silence tomorrow. I am never quite sure how we hype the yesterday but try so hard to forget when tomorrow finally gets here. Today is Veterans Day and we all should recall, remember, recollect the men and women who have taken bravery to the extreme, but not just for now and not just because, but because tomorrow is just as important.