On September 11, 2001, an attack on all of our freedoms that we so adore sent our nation into complete panic. When the sun came up on Sept. 12, although we did not know the exact number at the time, 2,977 people had been killed on that dreadful day. The dead include those who went down in the Pennsylvania field, the Pentagon and of course the World Trade Center.
Many American citizens mourned that dark day, while some took up their calling and enlisted in the military to defend our American nation. Military statistics show that 79,585 people joined the army in the first full recruitment year after 9/11, approximately 5,000 more than the previous year. These men and women in uniform decided it was necessary to defend their country, and today, we thank them for that.
Joining the military is not a walk in the park. The ones who make it don’t get to simply sign up and start fighting; it’s a process. And for some, the process starts in our own backyard with NC State’s ROTC program.
Those who join ROTC don’t do it solely for the scholarship benefits, and many of them don’t even receive scholarships. Just like one chooses an occupation, this is their occupation and something they want to do for the rest of their lives. They don’t get roped into the program — this is a choice and it includes a long process of getting where they want to be.
Cadets find themselves in physical training starting at 5:45 a.m. before going through the rest of their day sitting in classes with you and me. ROTC members spend much of their beginning curriculum in morals and ethics classes, learning the moral integrity and character that is needed in order to lead by example.
These human beings don’t participate in this rigorous schedule because they have to, they do it because they want to. If this is your calling, then take the opportunity to do so, there is a great ROTC program at NC State.
For citizens, there are other options for partaking our military. No matter which path one takes, we have an obligation to support and back them.
Filmmaker Michael Moore produced a piece three years ago exposing that everybody is a hypocrite when it comes to supporting the troops. Yet, he doesn’t quite understand that everyone has a different sense of backing our military.
Supporting the troops means looking at these men and women in uniform and realizing that they are heroes. It means that when you meet a veteran, you have the appreciation to tell them, “Thank you for your service to this country.” However, it doesn’t mean you have to give financially. We can still support our troops despite being college students who already have enough trouble affording tuition.
Supporting our troops means standing for the national anthem when it’s played and putting your hand over your heart because you remember those who have fallen giving you the freedom to do and say what you want. If you don’t like the way things have been handled in the past, blame the government, not our troops. Supporting our military isn’t a political thing. It doesn’t need to be done by just democrats or republicans; it’s just something you do for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Our military is a necessity, especially in this world today. You can’t always make deals over unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes it takes real force to stop terrorists or other groups who want to kill us.
Supporting of our troops shouldn’t end when they finish their service to this country. One of the biggest travesties in this nation is how our veterans are treated after returning home. In a new study done by the Department of Veterans Affairs, roughly 20 vets commit suicide daily. That is 20 too many and shows how quickly we can forget about these men and women after they return from active duty.
It’s time this country takes a stand and pledges to back each and every one of our men and women who choose to be American soldiers. Let’s not forget those who knowingly risked the ultimate sacrifice and the sons and daughters who may grow up without a mother and/or a father.
Today we thank our past, current and future military members for everything they’ve done to keep our nation free. If you can’t stand behind them, stand in front of them.
