Editorial

Residents urged to recognize veterans

Saturday, November 9, 2019

The Poplar Bluff Veterans’ Council will host its annual program at 11 a.m. on Monday at the Veterans Wall in front of the Black River Coliseum.

It is an event that is usually well attended by veterans and their families. A 21 Gun Salute and Taps are performed by the SEMO Veterans Honor Guard, and veterans speak about their service and love of country.

In this age of conversations dominated by social media, we urge everyone to not just talk about how they honor veterans, but to show it.

Attend an event, or just shake a veteran’s hand and say thank-you when you pass someone at the grocery store with a Vietnam veteran ballcap.

This is a day that should be marked by more than “Veterans Day specials,” and time off work.

There are approximately 20 million veterans alive today. More than 7 million of those served in the Gulf War era, now the largest group of living veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. There are about 600,000 veterans remaining from World War II, 1.5 million from the Korean War era and 6.7 million from the Vietnam War era.

Veterans made incredible sacrifices for our freedoms, and on Nov. 11, please take time to honor that.

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