Sometimes, being a woman of a certain age—someone who could not be drafted for the Vietnam War—has made me view Veterans Day too casually, as merely a day off. But over time, and with perspective, I’ve come to see it differently.

Recently, I came across a photograph of my grandmother and her boyfriend. He had served in World War I and often told stories of his service—particularly how he had once hoped to join a motorcycle unit in France, until he learned that most of those soldiers never returned.

My father enlisted in the Navy during World War II and served aboard an aircraft carrier. He shared vivid, and sometimes frightening, accounts of what he witnessed during his time at sea.

When the Vietnam veterans returned home while I was in college, they were met not with parades but with protests—a reaction that, in hindsight, I deeply regret. Since then, other troops have come home from deployments in distant places— yet few have been greeted with public celebration or lasting recognition.

Our troops helped save Europe twice. The world we know today might look very different had Hitler prevailed—those dystopian imaginings remind us of what was at stake. Since the end of the Vietnam War, American service members have been called upon time and again—often for defense, stability, and humanitarian purposes.

They have saved lives, defended fragile democracies, and provided relief in the wake of disaster—airlifting food to the starving, rescuing earthquake survivors, and rebuilding communities shattered by war and storm alike.

On Veterans Day, we owe them not only gratitude but understanding:  a recognition that their sacrifices—often made quietly and far from home—have shaped the freedoms and stability we too often take for granted. And as we honor them, let us also pray that peace prevails for all who have suffered in the Israel–Hamas war and in every place where conflict endures.

Patricia Maiden

Wellsville, NY