People sometimes wonder: Why have Veterans Day?
Harris Coleman answered that question Monday.
Coleman, adjutant of American Legion Post 29, delivered his message during remarks at the Veterans Day program at the Legion Hut on East Claiborne Avenue.
"When our nation is threatened, men and women step forward to meet the threat and remove our nation from harm's way.
They have and will continue to put the interest of the country ahead of their own," Coleman, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, said.
Veterans, he told the crowd of about 70 people, are everyday people who go about their lives unobtrusively in the communities where they live.
"He's the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia, sweating two gallons a day, making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel. He's a John Pittman who came to Greenwood, not seeking glory, just a quiet life in the country he sacrificed for," Coleman said.
Veterans have one thing in common: They all have given something in the cause of freedom. A veteran might be a man or a woman.
"She is a nurse who fought against futility and went to bed sobbing every night in Danang. He's the G.I., whose feet froze in Korea while defending our ally's freedom," he said.
Coleman referred to the post's photographic tribute to Leflore County residents who served in uniform during World War II.
"Behind me is a panel of photographs. There are over 1,400 photos up there. I feel sure that all of those from this area are not pictured," he said.
He referred to the 47 pictures in the display's center section, which contains photographs of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were killed in action during the conflict.
"If you'll look, you'll see that most of those photographs are of young men who are in their teens or early 20s. They were brave, idealistic, courageous and patriotic. Those 47 didn't live to marry, to have children or grandchildren," Coleman said.
He said the actual number of county residents killed in service to their country during the war probably numbered 60.
It takes a lot of people to defend freedom, he said.
Coleman said, 16.5 million Americans served in uniform in World War II. Some 407,000 died in service with more than 290,000 of that number killed in battle.
A veteran might pay a heavy price, both physically and emotionally, he said.
"He's the POW who went away one person and came back another. He's the high school football coach who lost a leg, but still led a productive life instilling a love of country in his players," Coleman said.
Veterans do not need medals or ceremonies to honor their service to the country, he said. "Just lean over and say thank you. Those two simple words mean more to veterans than medals ever could."
Our country's freedoms were bought by veterans.
"It's the veteran not the reporter that gave us freedom of the press. It's the veteran not the poet that gave us freedom of speech. It's the veteran not the campus organizer that gave us freedom to demonstrate," Coleman said.
What makes veterans a special group, he said, is their undying love of country.
"It's the veteran that salutes the flag, who serves others with respect for the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag. Why Veterans Day? Why indeed," Coleman said.
