Time for nation to come together

By the time this column appears in the Standard, we should know who has won the 2024 election.

Whoever that is, and whichever party controls the House of Representatives and Senate, don’t be surprised if the country remains.

The rhetoric and the blame-game went on for over a year. Chaos will still prevail unless cooler heads representing us are more interested in bringing this country together — lawmakers looking at what is best for we the people, not for the left or right — are the center of attention.

The time to start healing the nation is right now; not AFTER the new president is inaugurated, but NOW.

If we love this country, and love and appreciate the freedoms that are ours, then it is imperative that we put our differences aside, all of them. Compromise is not a dirty word. It is a word that can bring us together.

And lest we forget, Nov. 11 is right around the corner. Veterans Day. A holiday first celebrated in 1919 as Armistice Day.  It was set aside to celebrate the end of World War I and to honor those who fought to preserve our freedom and honor those who gave their lives to us all.

The first celebration to use the name Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Ala., in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized National Veterans Day which included a parade and other festivities to honor all veterans. This event was held on Nov. 11, then designated Armistice Day.

Today we honor ALL veterans who have served this country, many giving their lives to preserve our freedoms.

This is as it should be. Whether at peace or war, enduring conflict around the world, the uncertainties of today, we must say thank you to all the devoted women and men who choose to serve their country - whether for four years or 40 years.

We must look at the conditions in which many of our dedicated men and women who survived the wars and conflicts live now. 

We must assure that they are not only honored, but are taken care of, provided for, given what they need, whether medically, physically or psychologically. We must help them live a life of dignity. We must let them know that our country, their country, is grateful for their sense of duty and caring.

We must make Veterans Day a day to make sure that those veterans can receive what they need to get back their dignity and self-worth; it is the only way we can truly say, “Thank you for your service.”