Veterans make this country what it is today

I sometimes have a difficult time maintaining control when I witness the complete lack of understanding by many Americans as to what, and who, it took for this country to arrive where it is today. I know, I sound like a broken record, but it seems, at times, we have lost our way.

There are a great number of Americans who somehow fail, or refuse to accept, the direct relationship between their freedoms and our military men and women. How can any American minimize their service and sacrifice?

Usually, simple and short is better. As an example, yesterday I happened to see a bumper sticker on a car in Sandpoint that said it all in four words…"No Veterans — No USA."

I should overcome the temptation and stop right here. Those four little words distill perfectly my feeling toward my country and my military. However, I have to mention I have been talking to an American of the older generation who flew twenty-eight missions over Europe in '43 and '44 while manning a belly gun turret on a B-17 heavy bomber. He enlisted in the service after Pearl Harbor. What he, and others like him, went through boggles my mind.

When asked why he served, his simple, yet very powerful response was, " To serve my country in her time of greatest need."

No veterans — no USA; to serve my country in her time of greatest need… short, sweet, to the point.

God Bless America!

STEVE BRIXEN

Sandpoint