| A friend recently asked how it feels to be a veteran in a nation so divided. And my answer was, we aren’t. We aren’t. Do we disagree? Yes. Sometimes vehemently. But we aren’t as divided as election season makes us feel. Just look to our Veterans. Veterans are those young men and women from all over our nation who chose to serve a cause greater than themselves. Some poor, some rich. Some black, some white. Some from the city and others from the suburbs. All races, all religions, all backgrounds. They chose to SERVE. And I know that they are appreciated because time and time again, no matter where I am in the country, whether I am wearing my uniform or West Point gear, I hear “Thank you for your service!” or “Dinner was on those people over there” or “Let me buy you a drink”. Veterans represent the very best of the human condition – to serve others over self. To lay down one’s life for their neighbor. To give without the expectation to receive. And while Veterans are a shining example of the best part of America, what we see in them we can see in each other. In a time when Politics are trying to redefine Patriotism and ME is taking the place of WE, let us honor the values we hold most dear as a Nation – service to others and a cause greater than oneself. As Abraham Lincoln so eloquently stated, “Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.” There is so much more that unites us than divides us. Let our Veterans be our reminder. Let’s honor all that our Veterans represent. Sacrifice. Service. Solidarity. To All Our Veterans: Thank you for your example and thank you for your service! Happy Veterans Day from the MCFA Team, |
| BJ Kraemer President, MCFA |