Page 113 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine

HONORING VETERANS

Grateful Phil Johnson

Justice, Texas Supreme Court, Retired
Captain, USAF 1965-72

loud and ongoing debate in our country “Our debt to the valiant and heroic men
continues about whether our military should and women in the service of our country
A be involved in combat and security missions can never be repaid. They have earned our
in other countries, and if so, the extent of involvement. undying gratitude. America [must] never Inspiration
But that debate does not affect or control the duty of forget their sacrifices.”
individual members of our military forces. They take an
oath when they join. The oath includes their commitment Many valiant men and women did
to not survive their service to our
country. Many have. But regardless of
“…support and defend the Constitution of the United States whether the service member survived
against all enemies, foreign and domestic; … bear true his or her service, we honor all who
allegiance to the same; and … obey the orders of the President served. As a nation we honor them
Inspiration
of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed on special days such as Veterans Day
over me.” and Memorial Day. But we owe them
more; we should remember to honor
That oath governs the conduct of a military member them every day. After all, we stand on
regardless of whether the member agrees or disagrees their shoulders. We daily benefit from
with lawful decisions of the President or the member’s their sacrifices, and we continually
commanders. It cannot be otherwise for us to have the enjoy the freedoms achieved through
capable military force necessary for our nation’s survival. their devotion to duty.
President John F. Kennedy, a veteran who suffered
serious injuries while serving during World War II, noted It is easy to forget that we also
in an address to the nation many years ago, that stand on the shoulders of service
members’ families. Those families—
“In the end, the only way to maintain peace is to be prepared … wives, husbands, parents, partners
to fight for our country -- and to mean it. …We can convince and children—also sacrifice. They
friend and foe alike that we are in earnest about the defense of maintain homes; raise families; write, call, and encourage
freedom only if we are [truly and visibly] in earnest.”
service members who are serving apart from them; and
It has always been so; it will always be so. America live under stressful situations themselves. Because “they
will survive as a nation so long as both our friends and also serve who watch and wait,” we should likewise
enemies are convinced that our leaders, our nation, and honor them every day.
our armed forces are prepared to fight to protect and So, to our veterans and their families we say: We are
preserve our country.
grateful; Thank you for your service; and may God richly
Americans join together on certain days to honor those bless you every day for it.
who have served and who are serving in our military
forces. We do so because, as President Harry Truman—a
veteran of WWI—expressed it:

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