Words To Live By: Honoring Our Veterans

In today’s "Words To Live By" we honor our Veterans and…in the president’s messages to veterans, we’ll cover peace through strength. Going through out archives, both citizen, Governor and President Reagan delivered many addresses saluting those who serve our country. Today we’ve chosen two – the first he delivered in August 1980 to the Veterans of Foreign Wars…the theme was Peace because…in candidate Ronald Reagan’s view, peace was the first purpose of American foreign policy. So in saluting the sacrifices made by veterans, Reagan is stressing that in order to protect these men, and find a path toward peace, we must focus on peace through strength. He covers why he thinks American foreign policy has been working against peace and how that trend could be reversed. World peace was a major them of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign…and the theme seems quite fitting in light of the wars currently waged in the Middle East and Ukraine.

In the second half of the essay, we’ll read when he addressed the American people in honor of veterans day 40 years ago in 1983…of course, this address was focused on the veterans of both the Grenada and Beirut operations.

But first, let’s begin in 1980….remember, it is just 3 months away from the election, he has been cast as a warmonger due to his criticism of Carter’s foreign policy and increasing Soviet strength, and …..he is addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Chicago, Illinois on August 18, 1980.

“It has always struck me as odd that you who have known at first hand the ugliness and agon of war are so often blamed for war by those who parade for peace.

“I think the answer is obvious. Having known war, you are in the forefront of those who know that peace is not obtained or preserved by wishing and weakness. You have consistently urged maintenance of a defense capability that provides a margin of safety for America. There is no such margin today.

“But because of your support for military preparedness, there are those who equate that with being militant and desirous of war. Back in the 20’s, Will Rogers had an answer for those who believed that strength invited war. He said, “I’ve never seen anyone insult Jack Dempsey.”

“About 10 days ago, our new secretary of state addressed a labor convention. He took me to task. Indeed, he denounced me for urging that the US should seek to achieve military superiority. Actually, I‘ve called for whatever it takes to be so strong that no other nation will dare violate the peace. If that means superiority, so be it. But the secretary was downright angry. He charged that such a policy would lead to an all-out arms race and even war. Well, I have a message for the secretary – we’re already in an arms race but only the Soviets are racing. They are outspending us on total military by 50% and more than double, sometimes triple, on strategic nuclear weapons.”

At this point, the candidate segued into specific examples of Soviet spending and aggression – ie. the Brezhnev doctrine. But then he gets right back to his point…

“World peace must be our number one priority. It is the first task fo statecraft to preserve peace so that brave men need not die in battle. But it must not be peace at any price; it must not be a peace of humiliation and gradual surrender. Nor can it be the kind of peace imposed on Czechoslovakia by the Soviet tanks just 12 years ago this month. And certainly it isn’t the peace that came to Asia with our signing of the Paris peace accords.

“Peace must be such that freedom can flourish and justice prevail. Tens of thousands of boat people have shown us there is no freedom in the so called peace in Vietnam. The hill people of Laos know poison gas not justice and in Cambodia, there is only the peace of the grave for at least 1/3 of the population slaughtered b the communists.”

You might also find this quite interesting – he goes into a little history of military parity with the Soviet Union, back to JFK.

“When John F. Kennedy demanded the withdrawal of Soviet missiles from Cuba and the tension mounted, it was Nikita Khrushchev who back down and there was no war. Our nuclear superiority over the Soviets then was about 8 to 1.

“But then, in the face of such evidence that the cause of peace is best served by strength not bluster, an odd thing happened. Those responsible for our defense policy ignored the fact that some evidence of aggressive intent on the part of the Soviets was surely indicated by the placement of missiles in Cuba. No attention was paid to the declaration by the Soviet foreign minister that they would make sure then never had to back down again. No one could possibly misinterpret his statement. He was announcing the intention of the Soviet Union to begin a military buildup.”

We’ll cut to his close here…it’s surprising. It will catch you off guard…….as Ronald Reagan transitions into another topic..

“We have been a refuge for the persecuted and down-trodden from every corner of the world for 200 years. Today some of us are concerned by the latest influx of refugees, the boat people from Asia and from Cuba – all are fleeing from the inhumanity of communism. We worry about our capacity to care for them. I don’t believe we should turn them away.

“But let’s do a better job of exporting Americanism. Let’s meet our responsibility to keep the peace at the same time we maintain without compromising our principles and ideals.

“I believe it is our pre-ordained destiny to show all mankind that they, too, can be free without having to leave their native shore.”

Now, back to the story. In 1983, after the bombing of the marine barracks in Beirut and following the Grenada rescue, the President drafted some particularly touching words to honor not only the sacrifice of the living, but also to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. You’ll also hear two important things: first, a little history of Veterans Day and…a very touching story about a wounded soldier, hospitalized, who just received the purple heart. These remarks are excerpted from a radio address to the nation on America’s Veterans from November 5, 1983.

“My fellow Americans:

“Next Friday, November 11th, we'll celebrate Veterans Day -- the day America sets aside to honor millions of our finest heroes. They are the men and women who defend our country and preserve our peace and freedom. This Veterans Day offers more reason than ever to think about what these special people mean to America.

“Our most recent heroes -- those still serving and those who have just come back from Beirut and Grenada -- carried on with the same dedication and valor as their colleagues before them. If we remember that their dedicated service is in defense of our freedom and if we understand that they put their lives on the line so we might enjoy justice and liberty, then their sacrifices will not be in vain. This is our obligation. And this has been the spirit of Veterans Day from the beginning.

“Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day. It was first celebrated in 1919, the year we commemorated the armistice ending a war that was to have ended all wars. Two years later, a solemn ceremony was held in Chalons-sur-Marne, a town in northeastern France. The ceremony would have deep meaning for America. The remains of four unknown American soldiers had been brought to the town square from four American military cemeteries in France. An American sergeant, Edward F. Younger, placed a bouquet of white roses on one of the caskets. The American Unknown Soldier of World War I had been designated. After transport across the Atlantic aboard Admiral Dewey's flagship, the cruiser Olympia, our nation laid this hero to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921.

“Sixty-two years have now passed. Millions of people from every corner of the world have come to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to pay their respects to America's fallen heroes. The First World War did not end all wars. The assault on freedom and human dignity did not end. Our nation had laid to rest too many other heroes. From Guadalcanal and Omaha Beach to Mig Alley and Pork Chop Hill, from Khe Sanh and the A Shau Valley to Beirut, America's best continue to give of themselves for us and for freedom-loving people everywhere. Yes, veterans have given their best for all of us, and we must continue to do our best by them.

“Today, I reaffirm my determination to obtain the fullest possible accounting for our Americans missing in Southeast Asia. The sacrifices they made and may still be making and the uncertainty their families still endure deeply trouble us all. We must not rest until we know their fate.

“Our hearts turn also to our disabled veterans. Their sacrifices and hardship endure every day of the year. A compassionate government will show them that we do remember and honor them. We will meet their special needs. In particular, there is no substitute for caring, quality health care, and that care will be provided.

“Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I went there to pay tribute to the many who gave their last full measure of their devotion. They kept faith with us and, indeed, they were heroes. Where do we get such brave young Americans? And where do we get those that came to their aid -- the marines in Beirut who witnessed an unspeakable tragedy and returned to their posts with the same dedication and even greater resolve; the air crews working around the clock; the Army doctors performing medical miracles; and the sailors helping in countless ways? Such men and women can only come from a nation that remains true to the ideals of our Founding Fathers.

“I also met with families and friends of those who lost their lives. I share their sorrow, and they have my prayers, as I know they have yours. These brave men protected our heritage of liberty. We must carry on. I believe we can and will. The spirit and patriotism that made America great is alive and well.

“There was a brief ceremony in a hospital ward of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, last week that showed what I'm talking about. News photographers were taking pictures of soldiers who had just been awarded Purple Hearts and other decorations for valor. One wounded soldier, Private First Class Timothy Romick of the First Battalion, 75th Rangers, wearing a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantry Badge on his pajamas, interrupted the photographers. He said, ``Wait a minute.'' And he pulled out a small American flag. This young Army ranger put the flag above his decorations. And then he said, ``Okay. You can take your pictures now, because this is what I'm proudest of.''

“Each time our nation has called upon our citizens to serve, the best have come forward. Words cannot express our gratitude and admiration. But we can and should take the opportunity on this Veterans Day to remember their gift to us. When you see one of our young men and women in uniform on the street or someplace, how about a smiling ``hello'' and, maybe, a ``thank you.''

“Veterans know better than anyone else the price of freedom, for they've suffered the scars of war. We can offer them no better tribute than to protect what they have won for us. That is our duty. They have never let America down. We will not let them down.

“Until next week, thanks for listening, and God bless you.”

Thank you for reading. Happy Veterans Day.? And to those who have served or who are currently serving, thank you for your service.