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Let me take a stab at this . . .
As a Marine, it's a little different. we are told that every Marine is a rifleman and that is so that even if you are in the kitchen cooking the food if the enemy runs up in there you are able to attack. At the same time you are told you are in admin, not likely you will see any combat.
I knew that there was a very minute probability of me having to go and fight, but that is not something that is stressed, or really brought up.
I have sat with recruiters from the Air Force, the Navy, the Army, and of course the Corps, and all of them give you these cards. These cards have different benefits on them, and you are to list them in order of your prefrence. These crads list things like Money for Education, Job Experience, Travel the World, etc. To my recollection no cards say, Fight for country, go to war, Fight for Freedom of other countries.
Yes, we sign the contracts. But the fact of having to go to war is rarely discussed. But if you have to go , you go and when you come back you expect a little more than you get. Don't get it wrong we do appreciate the thigs we do get. I don't know how I would be surviving without the GI Bill my husband and myself receive. I don't know how my parents would have gotten thier hoem without the VA, but I know that it still would have happened.
People like me are a part of the reason that I can sit here and say what I am saying. When you have people ducking and dodging and I said 'I'll go'. Don't I deserve a little more? Can't I get a special something that makes life from here on a little easier? Can't I get a military discount even though I'm not active duty anymore, and I did not retire. Why is it that those are the only ones that count? Is not what I did as a veteran worth just as much?
I think what PHA is trying to say is that Memorial Day should be more of a time to reflect and apreciate instead of party. We should be remembering those who died and only joined the military for education or to travel and paid a really high price for that.
My apologies for the length.
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