Another three-day weekend! What are you going to do? Who will you do it with?
For most, Veteran’s day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July – they all mean vacation and relaxation. But, if you pause a moment to think about the meaning of the holiday’s and what our society is breaking for, your appreciation for the weekend may run a little deeper.
An estimated 7.3% of the United States’ population are believed to be veterans1. That’s a big chunk. Compare that number with the current percentage of those currently serving: 0.4%1. This is compared to more than 12% during WWII. In fact, a decreasing number of veterans alive today served during WWII. Imagine that.
The United States of America, the world’s largest military power2, is one of ten first-world nations to have a 100% volunteer military. That means with escalating tensions world-wide
that make the vast majority of people want to crawl back under the covers, there are men and women in your community volunteering to protect you and your family.
Movies and commercials make the armed services look glamorous and to a certain degree, controlled or safe with the hero always coming out on top. That’s not the case. Wars are ugly. Wars are dangerous. Wars claim lives and change lives, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
But still, our young people volunteer.
So, this weekend while you spend time with those you love, take a moment to thank a veteran. They’re all around us, acclimating back into society. They’re business owners, CEOs, waitresses, junk haulers, construction workers, real estate agents… Chances are, you know one – even if you didn’t realize it.
- https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-percentage-of-americans-have-served-in-the-military/
- http://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-worlds-20-strongest-militaries-ranked-2015-9/#2-russia-19
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