This is not that complicated. Here’s how it works:
There are more than a million men and women in this country serving on active duty in our armed forces. We acknowledge their contributions and sacrifices each year on Armed Forces Day. That’s in mid-May.
An almost equal number of Americans have been killed fighting in our country’s many wars. We pay tribute to them and what they gave each year on Memorial Day. That’s the last Monday in May.
And finally, there are millions of veterans of our armed forces living in our country. We honor them and their service each year on Veterans’ Day. That’s November 11.
But every year on Veterans’ Day, political leaders and those in the television news business ignore veterans, and instead pay tribute to those on active duty (No. That’s Armed Forces Day.) or those who died while on active duty (No. That’s Memorial Day.).
It happened again this year. On Veterans’ Day, President Trump and his entourage went to Arlington National Cemetery and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. What did I just say? That’s not what you do on Veterans’ Day. That’s what you do on Memorial Day.
Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, did pretty much the same thing. They went to a memorial in Philadelphia for those who died fighting in Korea. Again, that’s what you do on Memorial Day.
During the week of Veterans’ Day, the network evening news broadcasts told stories about active duty service members and those who had died in combat. But not about veterans.
What’s the matter with these people? There are an awful lot of veterans in this country who need our attention and help — not just on Veterans’ Day, but every day. Many suffer from physical and emotional wounds. Tens of thousands are homeless, addicted to drugs, and suffering from PTSD and other mental illnesses. Why did President Trump and Joe Biden ignore them on Veterans’ Day?
Is it because neither is a veteran and both dodged the draft during the Vietnam War? Are they embarrassed to meet with veterans on Veterans’ Day, hear their concerns, and offer to help?
They’re cowards. And their conduct is disgraceful.
