Veterans Day is ‘a day for all Americans,’ says American Legion speaker

Robert Reedy, a retired sergeant major of the U.S. Army, said in a speech at the American Legion Post 111 that Veterans Day is not just a day for veterans, it’s a day for all Americans and it’s a day to celebrate that these men and women served and protected our freedoms and the freedoms of future generations.

“Because of the service and sacrifice of our veterans, we enjoy freedom and the liberties that make up our way of life,” Reedy said during the Veterans Day ceremony. “They continue to protect our democracy and uphold our Constitution and safeguard the rights and freedoms of all Americans.”

Veterans represent a legacy of loyalty and service that honor all Americans, he added, and their sacrifice and devotion to duty inspires us all. Reedy said about 23 percent of our young people are even eligible to serve in the military, and only 1 percent will ever wear a uniform and put themselves in harms way.

“They’re such a small part of our population, but they’re a very important part,” Reedy said of veterans. “We owe them our support for what they have done and what they continue to do. So often in our minds we have a certain image for what we think a veteran is. But they come from all walks of life.”

People of all races, religions, nationalities and cultures are represented in the United States military. They want better for themselves and their families. Reedy encouraged the audience to take time to truly engage with veterans and listen to their stories. They might be surprised what they discover.

Others joined for love of country or a family legacy in military service. Today, Americans have a choice to serve. Reedy said there was a time when that was not the case, and many of the veterans gathered in the American Legion know that all too well. They were drafted or “invited to attend.”

For some, the military was a way to higher education, or a way to escape poverty or a path to citizenship. Again, Reedy said, these same people wanted a better life for themselves and their families. All veterans have unique stories, but their service is ubiquitous and it binds them all together. Brothers and sisters in arms.

“They are our heroes,” Reedy said. “You wouldn’t know it. You might be sitting next to one. Ordinary Americans who served when they were needed and responded in extraordinary ways when the time came. They all came from different places and joined for different reasons.

“But for whatever their motivation, some may still bear the costs of their service from serving the people of this great nation. We must honor our commitment to them by providing access to quality health care, education, employment opportunities and other essential services.”

Reedy added it is the duty of Americans to be grateful and to stand by veterans and their families, just as they stood for us. He directed his thoughts to veterans:

“No matter your branch of service or how long you served or what your job was or whether or not you saw combat — you still served,” he said.

Every story is important. As a young man, Reedy did not set out particularly inspired that he was going to join the military. But he did so by choice and through the guidance of a few good men in his community. Reedy ended up making a career of the military spanning more than 30 years.

Included in that were two tours to Afghanistan and many other operations throughout the years. Reedy came from a family whose history of military service dates back to the Revolutionary War. So perhaps Reedy did have some inspiration; he just didn’t recognize it at the time.

Over time he tracked down some family members who served in World War II.

He learned one uncle was a paratrooper during D-Day. He learned another was assigned to an armored medical battalion who was in the Battle of the Bulge.

In 2010, Reedy served on a specialized team working in the Lunar Province in Afghanistan. The team was assigned to and conducted missions directly supporting the task force of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 327th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

“This very brigade task force was named for the direct combat lineage from the famous battle forever known as the Battle of the Bulge,” Reedy said. “…Out of all the brigades and regiments possible, out of all the divisions possible, I was assigned to and supported the same one 66 years later with a man I was named after that I never met.”

The motto for the 101st Airborne Division is “rendezvous with destiny.”

“Perhaps, for me, it was,” Reedy said.