Just 6.1% of Americans are Military Veterans

[MineralMan]

https://usafacts.org/articles/who-are-the-nations-veterans/

That's a surprising number to a lot of people. Veterans are relatively rare. Recognizing that is an important part of understanding why our military veterans deserve to be remembered and respected at least for one day a year.

Fewer than 10% of those veterans are combat veterans.
https://www.midwestdisability.com/blog/2019/12/what-percentage-of-soldiers-see-combat/

The rest served to support the combat veterans in one way or another.

I'm one of the non-combat veterans. So, I'm thanking those who risked their lives for their service today.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

1. Thank you.

Something Been A Dick Donald will never know, nor his loser family.
MGySgt Dware-Ret.
USMC 1964-1999

Thank you for your service.

[MineralMan]

2. Right back at you!

[Collimator]

3. It's good that someone posted about this.

It IS Veteran's Day and we should be acknowledging it. Thinking on it it, I'm not sure if it is appropriate to say, "Happy Veteran's Day" or not. I know that one doesn't say, "Happy Memorial Day" or "Happy Good Friday" or "Happy Rosh Hashanah" because those holidays are observed, rather than celebrated.

One way or another, I am grateful for the freedoms and security that have been handed down to me by the sacrifices of others. The state of this country is hardly ideal at the moment, but there is still much to appreciate and I want to express my gratitude towards those who served.

My dad was a 19 year old kid serving with the Marines in the Pacific theater during WWII when a mortar shell hit the mess tent during breakfast, taking out dozens of his buddies. That's just mind-boggling to me.

He was the most gregarious, outgoing man you could ever expect to meet, and he only occasionally mentioned the Marines. He could lecture you to tears on almost any subject under the sun, but he never spoke of the war. That, in itself, was telling.

For all those who served and bear scars visible or unseen, I thank you and wish you healing and wholeness.

[usonian]

4. Coastie here.

11-11-71 to 11-11-75. 50th anniversary of stowing the bell bottoms. I went to work in aerospace afterwards.



I am grateful to those who risk their lives to save others.

[Silent Type]

6. My WWII vet dad was in Coast Guard. Grew up singing "Semper Paratus."

Last year of college, I went to join up and CG recruiters laughed at me because I wore big ole thick glasses. Disappointing.

[usonian]

7. They must have tightened standards.

How did I ever get through boot camp?

Not much for an athlete. Quite a test for me.

Good of you to try.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

9. Same thing happened to me after high school

A buddy and I went to enlist in the Army and they took him right away. The recruiter smiled at me, shook his finger at me and said, "We're gonna have a problem with you!" Oh well, I tried...

[Emile]

13. In 1969 I tried to enlist in the Coast Guard, and they told me the line was

500 miles long (Vietnam War). So I enlisted in the Navy.

[Para722]

5. We did

In my family my dad (Korea)and all his brothers were either Navy or Marines (WW2 one was at Pearl Harbor) (and yesterday was always a holiday in our house) myself to the utter shame of my family did 14 years in the Army (active and reserve) Panama , First Gulf and Somalia for me

[Ms. Toad]

8. Not one day, two.

And more benefits (government and private sector) than most other workers.

Where is the single day, let alone two, set aside for teachers, nurses, farmers, or any other group of workers? Free meals? Discounts? Free tuition?

Veterans are not less able to carry their own weight, nor more worthy than any other group of people who provide services our country needs. Yet twice a year, we get flooded with messaging about how special vets are (on top of all of the ways they are remembered and treated as "better" or "more special" the other 363 days a year. Including getting paid during the shutdown, even when others required to work were not.)

[MineralMan]

10. Now that's some bitter-assed words you write there.

I'm sorry you're burdened with such feelings. That's about all I can say.

[MineralMan]

11. Here You Go, Ms. Toad:

Teachers' Days
International
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Teachers%27_Days

USA
https://www.aapacn.org/learn_more/nurses-week/

International
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmers%27_Day

USA
https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-hug-a-plumber-day-april-25

You can search for as many others as you can think of. Google will show you the links.

[BlueTsunami2018]

12. In fairness, which teachers or nurses are putting their lives on the line to further the ruling class' interests?

I mean, the owners would love to eliminate their benefits completely and they use these soldiers as cannon fodder and death squads to steal the resources of other people which further pads their pockets, the least they can do is give these soldiers a day or two of recognition.

I’m surprised they even do that quite frankly.

[Ms. Toad]

14. And what soldiers work 80-100 hours a week, year round

And pay for not only their own living expenses - but also classroom supplies?

Stop elevating one kind of sacrifice over another. If you are in the military you choose that sacrifice - at least since the draft ended

And talk about putting your lived on the line - you must be aware of all the health care workers putting their lives on the line during the peak of COVID-19

[BlueTsunami2018]

15. I think we've had some miscommunication.

I was agreeing with you in a roundabout way.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. To Be Honest...

...I thought the number was lower.
I never would have guessed one in 16 were vets.

[MineralMan]

17. I had no real idea, so

I let Google find it for me. Interesting numbers. They change, I suppose, but balance out over time.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. After I Posted, I Looked Into It, Too

That 6.1% is of the adult population.
It's around 15.8 million vets out of just under 260 million adults.
Even of we include all Americans, it's still well over 4%.
Even that is higher than I expected.

[oasis]

19. My salute to every veteran who has served.

[MustLoveBeagles]

20. Thank you for your service