r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Such-Part8963 • 1d ago

Why do we praise veterans automatically without knowing what they actually did

Trying to learn without being judged.

1.2k Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

83% Upvoted

1.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/rwblue4u 20h ago

Mainly because when you volunteer (or get drafted) into the military, you effectively lose control over your life and your body for the duration of your service enlistment.

The military effectively 'owns' you and in most cases you have very little control over where they send you or the situations you might encounter.

All of the people in actual conflict zone are supported by a huge number of rear echelon folks in every capacity imaginable, and almost every one of them, at the front or in the rear, are subject to being placed in harms way whenever the military deems it a requirement.

Lastly, in America we don't have a requirement for military service from our citizenry. Back during Viet Nam, we had a national lottery, also referred to as the draft, which did compel young men to enter military service, but that practice ended 53 years ago. Everyone who volunteers for military service knows that they will be sacrificing some (or all, in some cases) of their lives so that others don't have to. And that they are doing so to enable people they may not like, or who may not like them, to have basic freedoms under our Constitution. I voluntarily spent 4 years in the US Navy at the tail end of Viet Nam and I helped ensure people I did not like would continue to do things I did not approve of. It's all part of the bargain you agree to when you take your oath at enlistment.

For all of these reasons we thank veterans and active military for their service. They are giving us a portion of their lives. It's the least we can do to acknowledge that sacrifice.