Veterans Day

By Rod Jetton

Veterans Day stirs up many different images and emotions in the hearts of Americans. We think of patriotism and Old Glory being raised at Iwo Jima and Ground Zero. We think of hard-won victories and hard-fought defeats. We think of legends made and remember heroes lost. We think of loved ones who left and returned as well as loved ones who never did.

All these thoughts, images and dreams are tied together by one theme: sacrifice.

Sacrifice has been a topic of much conversation in the news media and politics of late. Recently, the 2,000th American casualty was lost in Iraq. The liberal press and opponents of the war have been using the number as a means to advance their political agendas and, sadly, their careers. The idea behind their rants is that 2,000 is simply too many to lose. That number, they say, is cause for us to pack it in and go home. They say 2,000 lost is unacceptable.

Sadly, in a way, they are right: 2,000 is too many. In truth, one life lost is too many. Our children should not have to lose their parents. Our parents should not have to lose their children. We should not have to watch friends and loved ones leave, never to be seen again. There is no acceptable number.

But this is true in many other areas. One police officer lost in the line of duty while fighting to protect the innocent is too many. One firefighter lost while running into a burning building, hoping to save one more stranger, as everyone else runs out is too many. One ordinary citizen who dies trying to help neighbors during a natural disaster is too many. No amount of loss is ever acceptable.

Acceptable or not, sacrifice is necessary. There is evil in this world. The events of the past four years have proven that fact beyond dispute. Evil unopposed will spread. Like Edmund Burke said, "All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

Thankfully, there are those in our community who are called to stand against evil, oppression and hatred. They bravely risk their lives so that the rest of us can live safely and securely. Their loss leads to a greater good for us all.

So for those who want to use the number 2,000 as a tool for political propaganda or useful campaign material, I have a few questions of my own.

When it comes to women and children who suffer violence and abuse, how many is too many?

When it comes to people living under the reign of oppression, torture and fear; how many is too many?

When it comes to fellow humans who wake up each morning and go to sleep each night under the heel of dictators, despots and fascists, how many is too many?

When it comes to innocent civilians killed by fanatics and lunatics, driven by some perversion of religion, how many is too many?

This is not a math problem. There is no equation that will give us the acceptable number of deaths to combat a certain level of threat or danger. All life is sacred as a gift from God. But that does not justify standing by as evil men push terror, hate and death. We should never forget that we lost over 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11, 2001. This fight is far from over and more of our brave men and women will be lost.

This Veterans Day, think about their sacrifice and see it for what it is: the ultimate expression of love and devotion.

In John 15:13, Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this; that he lay down his life for his friends."

Our service men and women do not fight for glory, money or power. They fight because they love their friends, family and community. They fight because they want to protect what they love.

This Veterans Day, the best thanks we can give those who have fought and those who continue to fight for our freedom is to commit ourselves to living lives worthy of their sacrifices.

Every day we live in freedom is a blessing from God and a gift from those who gave of themselves so that we may live in peace and safety.

To honor their gift we must make the most of our lives so that their actions were not in vain. If we are successful, fewer sacrifices will be needed in the future.

Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, Mo., represents the 156th District in the Missouri House of Representatives, where he is the speaker. He served in the U.S. Marines and was involved in military operations in Bosnia and Somalia.