This is the speech prepared for presentation at Glennallen High School by Terry Keizer, Commander, Gladys M. Heintz Memorial Post #27, American Legion, Department of Alaska.  This is modified from the national speech prepared and sent out by the American Legion Headquarters.

Seventy years ago, Congress and the President finally passed and signed what many historians consider the greatest social legislation ever passed by the U. S. Congress.  As popular as the GI Bill remains today, it took the horrific cost and bloodshed of World War II to remind many Americans just how great the debt is owed to our veterans.

Today, most Americans profess to truly love our veterans, unlike when I returned from Viet Nam, especially at gatherings like this on Veteran’s Day.  While their feelings are usually sincere, it is important to remember that veterans are defending us 365 days a year.  The heroism that has been demonstrated time and again by veterans from the American Revolution to the current Global War on Terrorism is sometimes unnoticed by those of us who enjoy the security that their sacrifice has provided.

Army Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha has seen war at its very worst.  While serving at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistan, he and his comrades awakened to an attack by an estimated 300 enemy fighters on October 3, 2009.  As a result of his actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor.  After receiving the award he said he felt conflicted, “The joy comes from recognition of us doing our jobs as soldiers on distant battlefields but is countered by the constant reminder of the loss of our battle buddies.  My battle buddies.  My soldiers.  My friends.”  Many of us carry that same conflict.

Staff Sergeant Romesha’s attitude is not hard to find among the living veterans.  They will never forget the sacrifice of their friends and neither will the Gold Star families, who have to cope without the embrace of their loved ones lost in service.  The hearts of these families will feel the sharp sting of their loss, leaving them only with memories of their loving mom or dad, son or daughter, sister or brother….  The debt can never be repaid, but the gratitude and respect remains forever.

For many veterans, our nation was important enough to endure long separations from families, miss the births of children, freeze in sub-zero temperatures, bake in steaming jungles or arid deserts, and far too often, lose their lives.

Military spouses endure career interruptions, frequent changes of address, and a disproportionate share of parental responsibilities.  Children deal with changes in schools, separation from friends and, hardest of all, the uncertainty of whether or not Mom or Dad will live through their next combat tour.

Warriors need advocates and that is why the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars exist.  We are here to serve veterans, their families and our communities.  Veterans need each other, but more importantly, our country needs our veterans.

As we look at the Middle East today, we know that there is a large, dangerous and committed group of fanatics that wants us dead.  While ISIS and al Queda and other terrorists may lack the conventional weapons of Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan, they are every bit as evil in their intentions.  Those who defend us from our enemies must be supported wherever their service is. We need to serve veterans as well as they serve us, even or especially when the guns have temporarily stopped firing.

Veterans don’t ask for much.  They do not want to be in a “special class,”  Their benefits are a mere drop in the bucket compared to the financial and human cost of war.  And while not all veterans see war, all who served in the military have expressed a willingness to fight if called to.

Historians have said that Dwight Eisenhower was prouder of being a soldier than he was of being president.  While relatively few veterans ever reach the rank of general- I know I certainly did not- pride in one’s military service is a bond shared by nearly all who have served.  This pride is on display on every obituary page in the country; military service is mentioned with the death notice on nearly every deceased veteran. Can any CEO or distinguished Ivy League graduate truly claim to have more responsibility than the 21-year old squad leader walking point? 

Fewer than 10% of Americans can claim the title “Veteran.”  Far less than 1 % of our population is currently defending us in the Global War on Terrorism.  

Veterans have given us freedom, security and the greatest nation on the earth.  We must continue to remember them; we must continue to appreciate them.  Thank you.

God bless you for being here, God bless our veterans, and God bless America.