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To the Editor:
Thursday, November 11th, is Veterans Day. Many people 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 2021 has changed more and is more divided than ever we can be united in our respect and love for our military. Because our military is young, active and healthy COVID-19 took the lives of only 67 active duty military out of 1,400,000. However, because of high levels of stress and depression, suicide took the lives of over 400. Biden has added more unnecessary stress by requiring all military must get the vaccine even if they had COVID before or be discharged. Sadly, this could result in the loss of 20 percent or 280,000 military. China and Russia would be happy.
It’s a high calling to have served in the American military especially in this time of all-volunteer military. They 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. You can also honor your favorite veteran by purchasing a $10 ad which includes a picture along with a message to be published in the Wednesday, November 10th Elizabethton Star. Those serving in 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.
American military veterans and active duty deserve the highest recognition. According to www.prageru.com 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. It’s not just the open conflicts the U.S. military resolves; it’s the not-wars — all the conflicts that were never fought because our enemies feared the consequences of American military involvement. The American military stands guard over the world’s shipping lanes. Block those lanes and the price of everything skyrockets and international commerce stops and millions starve. The U.S. military has been and remains as close to a global sheriff as exists on Earth, keeping the peace!” The only one to bring more peace is the Prince of Peace also known as 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 least we can do is thank, respect and pray for them. Thank you military veterans and active duty. 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 have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and an American soldier. The soldier died for your freedom. Jesus died for your soul!”

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