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To the Editor:
Saturday, Nov. 11, 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 2023 has changed and is more divided than ever, we should be united in our respect and love for our military. Sadly many states like California now spend more on illegal immigrants than veterans!
It’s a high calling to have served in the American military especially in this time of all-volunteer military. There is some talk of starting a draft in America. I am against the draft because everyone isn’t cut out to be in the military and those forced to serve will not be as dedicated and perhaps cause disunity.
Veterans and active duty military deserve our respect and admiration which they do receive in East Tennessee. They deserve to be thanked. Many restaurants in East Tennessee thank military veterans and active duty by giving them free food on Veterans Day. The Knoxville Zoo is even giving free admission to active duty and veterans. Those serving in the military come away with discipline and leadership qualities that only come from military service, making them highly desirable employees. Many of our policemen, firemen, teachers and government leaders have served in the military. It will be great to see pictures of our local veterans in the Elizabethton Star November 11-12 weekend edition!
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. The U.S. military has been and remains as close to a global sheriff as exists on Earth, keeping the peace!” However in these end days the only one that can bring lasting peace is the Prince of Peace, 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 those who have served us and are now serving us. Thank you police, 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 ever died for you. The military veteran for your life and Jesus for your soul!”

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