Letters: What a veteran is
Every Veterans Day, I am reminded of two things: Those I served with in Vietnam who are no longer here and gave their lives in the service of our country, a painful thought, and my youngest daughter whose birthday it is today, a joyful thought. I was drafted in 1968 into the Army as an infantry rifleman. I was very nearly a battlefield statistic on several occasions, and would have left behind my wife, unborn daughter and family. To this day, I become physically ill thinking about those days and wishing I knew then what I know now. That aside, I came across a definition of an American soldier and veteran, author unknown, that I believe is worth sharing on this day of remembrance: A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for any amount, up to and including their life. It just can’t be said any better.
Richard K. Thompson, Roseville
This story was originally published November 10, 2017 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Letters: What a veteran is."