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To the Editor:

Monday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. Many get it confused with Memorial Day in the month of May which honors American war dead. More than a million men and women died to protect our nation and the democratic freedoms we enjoy today. Veterans Day honors those who served in the military and are living. While America 2024 has changed and more divided than ever, we should be united in our respect and love for our military. Sadly, many states like California now spend more on illegal immigrants than veterans!

It’s a high calling to have served in the American military especially in this time of all-volunteer military. There is some talk of starting a draft in America of both young men and women. I am against the draft because everyone isn’t cut out to be in the military and those forced to serve will not be as dedicated and cause disunity.

Veterans and active duty military deserve our respect and admiration which they receive in East Tennessee. They deserve to be thanked when you meet one. Many restaurants in East Tennessee thank military veterans and active duty by giving them free food on Veterans Day. Those serving in the military come away with disciple and leadership qualities that only come from military service making them highly desirable for all employers. Most of the best policemen, firemen, teachers and government leaders have served in the military. There are 3,944 veterans in Carter County. It will be great  to see pictures of our local veterans in the Elizabethton Star  November 10 weekend edition!

American military veterans and active duty deserve the highest recognition. According to Dennis Prager, if the Nobel Peace Prize was given out to people who did the most to make the world a more peaceful place, the United States military would win every year. The Nobel Prize is the world’s most prestigious award with each recipient receiving an 18 karat gold medal and a check of about 1 million dollars. “The U.S. military saved the world from German domination in the First World War and saved the free world from German and Japanese fascism in the Second World War. The U.S. military saved the free world from communism in the Cold War. The reason America is free and the reason anyone on earth today is free is ultimately thanks to the U.S. military. The U.S. military has been and remains as close to a global sheriff as exists on Earth, keeping the peace!” However in these end days the only one that can bring lasting peace is the Prince of Peace, Jesus!

The Bible has helped and comforted military members since the time of George Washington. The daughter of a British World War I veteran says a bullet-scarred pocket Bible saved her father’s life. The Bible says in these last days evil and dangerous times would come (2 Timothy 3). So the military and police are needed more than ever. The military and police are serving God by restraining evil and providing justice, law and order. (Romans 13:4) 

The Bible in 2 Timothy 3 says in the last days evil people will be unthankful. The least we can do is thank, respect and pray for those who have served us and are now serving us. Thank you police, military veterans and active duty. I also thank all those Tennesseans I see carrying a firearm. It’s important to guard your own church and home in these end days. The Bible in John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” It takes love and courage to be willing to lay down your life for friends, family and country. I like the bumper sticker that said, “Get behind our military or get in front of it.” I really like the bumper sticker that said, “Only two defining forces ever died for you. The military veteran for your life and Jesus for your soul!” 

 

D.D. Nave, Major, USAFR(I)

Elizabethton