Those who served

The past few months have been hard on many of our military veterans. After two decades of war in Afghanistan, they had to watch helplessly as the fruits of a generation of labor fell to the Taliban in a shambolic and bloody withdrawal.

Inevitably, many were called to question what it was all for — all the strain and sacrifice, the blood and the treasure expended in a cause where four presidential administrations and the top brass failed in their commitment — and consistently failed to tell the truth.

That question is not reserved to those who served in Afghanistan. Since World War II, there have been few clear-cut victories and too many vague and poorly executed “exits.” That’s on our political leadership and ultimately on us — not on our veterans who served their country faithfully and well.

Veterans Day is an opportunity for us to recognize service to country, service that is honorable and valued, regardless of politically engineered outcomes. It’s also a time for the broader American community to recognize that the call to service always comes with a cost to the small percentage of men and women who answer that call. We owe them our thanks, and this day offers us a chance to offer them a salute.

Those who are moved to do so can reach out to veterans through local organizations that are dedicated to helping those who served us and now need our support:

• Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, http://www.covranch.org

• Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, http://www.covo-us.org

• Warfighter Outfitters, http://www.warfighteroutfitters.org

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief