Veteran's Day

I made a promise.

When our nation is threatened
and our military must be deployed,
I promised to go myself;
I am a Veteran.

When others debated,
“Should we send troops—
  to Kosovo
  to Vietnam
  to Tikrit
  to Afghanistan
  to Korea
  to Saudi Arabia
  to Iraq…”
The Veteran asked a different question:
  “Should we send “us”—
  or those we trained—
  or our heirs in service.”

Violence solves no problems.
At best it provides time to search for long term solutions.
But the veteran knows the price:
  In missed birthdays
  and holidays
  In aching joints
  and missing limbs
  In sleepless nights
  and absent companions.

To find a person who truly treasures peace,
  Look in the heart of a Veteran.

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Note:
Written for Veteran's Day 2019. The Veteran's Committee decided I needed to write a poem for our Veteran's Day celebration--while I wasn't in the room. This was the second time they volunteered me. Note to self—don't leave the room during a planning meeting.