Armed Forces Day has passed, and Memorial Day is coming to begin the festive, patriotic summer. Soon, the Fourth of July will come, and people will be lost in fireworks and buying red, white and blue paper plates for their barbecues.
During the weekend, some of Delaware County's approximately 10,000 veterans participated in the Armed Forces Day Parade as a way to thank those who fought for American freedoms.
Joe Mansfield, commissioner of the Delaware County United Veterans Council, said Muncie's third Armed Forces Day Parade was a way to thank veterans.
Mansfield said Ball State University students should be thankful for the veterans' sacrifices, which allow students to study and enjoy college life.
For all the rights we are proud to have, throughout history soldiers have withstood enemy fire and shrapnel to protect the ideals of our country. The country has fought the British for independence, Germany and Japan who threatened the safety of the world and now is fighting terrorism in the Middle East. The country even fought with the southern states to protect freedom.
President Harry S. Truman was responsible for the idea of one holiday to honor all the armed forces services: the Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force. The first Armed Forces Day took place May 20, 1950.
Veterans and soldiers serving are the reason why we have days off or have parades ride through town. In the past, our generation didn't fight because we were too young. But once we saw planes turn two towers to rubble, no one else could fight but people of our generation.
We can't view veterans with disregard anymore. They are no longer just the elderly from the Veteran of Foreign Wars building who were cleaned up to look good for a parade. They aren't even your parents or grandparents anymore.
Veterans and soldiers aren't in history books anymore. Brothers, sisters, friends and classmates are serving the country. They experience car bombings and surprise attacks from a hidden enemy in foreign lands.
At home, disillusionment is an epidemic, and apathy is a common cold.
These guys fight to uphold "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," even if there doesn't seem much to be happy about these days.
Rising gas and food prices, terrorism and President George W. Bush might give people a reason to hate the war, but don't take it out on those fighting abroad. Don't forget the soldiers overseas and veterans are people, too.
Even if you don't agree with the war, you should respect the efforts and the struggles these young people face. How could you hate a fellow human being who is fighting for the principles America was founded upon?
Next weekend and other holidays this summer are not only for partying with flashing fireworks and friends. It's a time to say thanks to the women and men who allow us to be safer at home than people in other nations.
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