If you have peace...

It’s Veteran’s Day in the U.S. and it reminds me of a saying.

“If you have peace, thank a veteran. If you have war curse a politician.”

This reminds me not just of the great sacrifice and immense weight we place on our military but the responsibility we grant them and our politicians. Soldiers take action when the political process fails. They’re strength allows us to have that political process.

All over the world people die in terrible conflicts, soldiers forced or called to conflict for the good of their society. And in other places our societies are held together by their diligence. It is a terrible burden and a great responsibility.

Too many of our soldiers, American veterans, return from conflict damaged, and too often our own government fails them. But were it not for their sacrifice I might not live in a nation as stable as this is.

So I thank our veterans, for their sacrifice, and their courage. I pity the pain they have been forced to endure so that I would not, and I pray that the veterans of tomorrow will not share the pain of the veterans of today.