For many people, Veterans Day is a chance to sleep in, catch up on work, relax. The holiday’s origin, Armistice Day–the end of World War I, might seem to be in the very distant past. We are delighted this Veterans Day to have our own veteran, daughter Kristin, back safe and sound from her deployment to Iraq. At the same time, our thoughts are with the families who have not been so lucky.
We were fortunate to be able to coordinate a conference presentation that Karen and I did together in Athens with Kristin’s mid-tour leave. It was a nice break for her, and a great time to be together.
Veterans Day follows another huge milestone–the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. 1989 may seem almost as remote to today’s students as World War I does to me, but it is not a day that should ever be forgotten. I definitely have a flashbulb memory of the night I heard the news. I was teaching an evening course, and all of a sudden, everyone was in the corridors talking about the unbelievable, joyous celebrations in Berlin.
The Crosses Recognize Victims of the Border System in Berlin
I never thought I would live long enough to see Germany reunified. When I was an exchange student in Austria in 1969, my host family showed me the many pieces of priceless art that had been destroyed by the occupying Soviet army, and told me how their food supply was nearly nonexistent until 1962. They took me to a castle on a hill overlooking the Hungarian border. They thought as an American, I should see first hand what the Red Army looked like. I recall looking as far as the horizon at a field of tanks and other military equipment. With binoculars, you could see the soldiers lounging around the tanks smoking their cigarettes. For the first time in my life, the Cold War seemed very real and very personal.
Times change, and threats to freedom change. Nobody likes war, and nobody hates war as much as the soldier and those who love him or her. But I am very grateful to be sitting here at my computer, speaking my thoughts freely in ways that are still impossible in many parts of the world and would be impossible here had it not been for the many sacrifices of our veterans. Thank you.
4 Comments
vdowell · November 11, 2009 at 12:12 pm
It sounds like you have a very well rounded view of wars, and you’ve been able to learn about them from many different perspectives. I hope I can gain a better perspective on world conflicts soon. Until then, I’m just really happy whenever I hear of someone coming home safe from overseas. My uncle has been deployed to Iraq several times since the US became involved there. Every time he comes home safely its a huge sigh of relief by everyone in the family, including his seven year old daughter, who’s grown up with him home sometimes, and gone others. It’s sad that he has missed many important moments in her life, but most people are understanding and supportive of the situation. However, we’ll all be really happy when the time comes that he can stay home 🙂
bhines · November 16, 2009 at 9:38 am
Veteren’s Day is also my mom’s birthday, and her mom used to always tell her she got the day off school since it was her birthday! However, there is so much more to this special day than that. I really enjoyed hearing about you’re apprectiation for the day. I find it troubling when I hear people say they hate war, as if they are the only ones! I appreciate the way you worded it- nobody likes war (at least all non-psychiopaths!) ESPECIALLY those who have loved ones on the front line. I wonder when mankind will develop a better strategy for resolving conflicts. It does not offer much hope considering the fact that we have used violence as the end means for solving conflict for thousands of years. It seems like we have the opposite instinct- not to harm others and encourage our growth as a species. Yet, we seem to still exercise violence as a response to greed, ignorance, and pain. Someone once told me the simple phrase: hurt people hurt people. So as cheesy as it may sound, I think the only hope we have is to do our own personal duties not to hurt others to the best of our awareness. LoVe <3
aseastrunk · November 16, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I am very happy to hear that you got to spend veterans day with your daughter. It must be very difficult to have a loved one leave to go to Iraq. Your daughter is extremely blessed to have such a kind and supportive family. War has not touched my life quite as personally as it has touched some. Reading your blog made me feel very grateful for what I have today. In the U.S., we often forget that there are places where people are not allowed to speak freely, or that there are those who have risked their lives for the right to do so. Thank you for helping me to take a moment to pause and appreciate the blessings life has given me.
aterpenny · November 20, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I can only imagine how difficult it is to see a loved one leave home to go fight abroad. I personally have never had to send a family member off although relatives of mine have fought in previous wars. I can only imagine the emotions your family dealt with when Kristin was gone. Luckily she is home now, safe and unharmed. It takes a very strong and courageous individual to enlist in the army and I would like to thank your daughter for all she has done for our country.
My mom has told me stories from her childhood about the falling of the Berlin Wall. My hometown houses the Ronald Reagan Library and at one point, it housed a two foot section of the wall in the grounds outside the library. I am not sure if it still remains there, but I remember the many emotions my mom had while reading the plaque that stood beside the piece of the wall. My mom also has a piece of the Berlin Wall. I must say that it is quite a trip to see the small piece of such a monumental wall grasped in between my hands. Furthermore, seeing the beautiful artwork of a painted butterfly on one side while the other side is but a dismal looking gray tone is unreal. I can only imagine who painted the butterfly and how such a small piece of a wall can tell so many stories about Germany’s history.
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