Our privileges stem from veterans' sacrifices

I recently went to the Black Hills area to check out the history, monuments and natural wonders. I was disappointed by the crass commercialization and access pass prices that rivaled the cost of a tank of fuel for the pickup. You would think by the merchandise on the shelves that the only thing of importance to have happened in the area was the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally. We were on the way home after a few days in the area when I saw a small sign stating that the South Dakota National Cemetery was off of the next exit.

I made a Banzai charge across the lanes of traffic and followed the signs to the cemetery. After spending the previous days forced to walk amongst shelves of glitter emblazoned, cheesy chotskies loudly espousing shallow messaging, I now found myself standing in a simple, solemn place that softly whispered a profound truth. I strolled about reading the markers that ranged from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and a new area from the Middle East.

The emotional impact of the area was amplified by the realization that these were the markers of only the ones that were lucky enough for their remains to have made it home. There were many more interred in the myriad of military cemeteries and oceans all over the world.

The second realization was that these markers represented only service members from the relatively sparsely populated state of South Dakota.

My thoughts moved to how politicians claim that they are dedicating their lives to public service. There are others that think that their advocating for their special interest, union, ethnicity, agenda or Cause Celebre somehow qualifies as a sacrifice for the country. Recently, there are those that claim that their lives matter and other groups claim that all lives matter.

The stones that I was surrounded by marked the locations of individuals that died believing that everyone else’s life mattered more than their own.

People think that they are endowed with rights and freedoms in this country. They are not. They are bestowed with privileges secured by the sacrifices made by those buried about me. Another misstatement is that our country’s freedoms have been payed for by the sacrifices of veterans. That is false. Our country is mortgaged. Those that have gone before us have only made the down payment and initial installments. Our present military is keeping the payments current. The world is filled with evil. The day that our country decides that a sound military defense is no longer necessary is the day that the repossession process will begin for our country.

The next time that you are deluding yourself that the work you are doing to further your agenda, your personal wealth or your political beliefs will somehow satisfy your obligations to the nation — stop. What have you really done for your country?

HERB WIENS

Sandpoint