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Show Veterans should be honored, now and throughout the rear The screams of the wounded and the stench of gunpowder surrounded Robert Richardson, a private in America's Continental Army, but he fought on until a British cannonball struck his hand spike. It broke in two, one end tearing his belly open. The wind from the cannonball left his right arm useless. Richardson's blood had paid the price of peace and freedom. But, for the rest of his life, he was totally disabled. Life was tough really tough for Richardson and other patriots wounded in the struggle to free America from colonial chains. Many were reduced to begging. The world, life and wars have changed a lot since the days of the Revolution. But one thing hasn't changed: we still send men to war, and they still return home deserving of honor and respect. We at the Record don't feel that closing a few government offices or flying an occasional flag on Veterans Day yeterday is enough. These men, and women, deserve our thanks for doing their share to keep the world free. We don't agree with the demands being made by some veterans groups for all the tax-paid services they would like. But we do agree that these men did give to their country, and that the country and the veteran's neighbors and friends should give something in return. With many today disagreeing with national politics and especially with war, in particular wars like in Vietnam, it is becoming increasingly easy to ignore the veteran. Yet, today's veterans, in many ways, are a lot like Robert Richardson who gave so much for the Revolution. Think about the sailor whose arms were crushed when a Nazi torpedo smashed through the hull of his ship, or about the pilot whose body was burned and disfigured when his plane was shot down over Korea, or about the Marine whose legs were blown off by a Viet Cong booby trap. Or think about the soldier who came home whole, if anyone can really come home whole from a war. Think about all those who gave so much physically, mentally and emotionally, in the belief that their country is still the greatest country on earth and that those who protect it deserve our thanks and encouragement. We at the Record salute and thank you. |