As British, we appear to some others on this spinning globe as a bit cold fish and unemotional. We are reluctant to band together to do good works. Some do but that involvement is sparse.
So, I was pleased to read this from an American blog.
But hospital visits are just a small part of what the veterans groups stand for. Nationwide, on a daily basis, they continue their battles on the front lines helping their communities; collecting food, clothing, bottle caps and anything else that they might bring hope to those in need. Whether caring for elderly veterans or cradling sick infants, they are on hand helping out at the hospitals and retirement homes. They are at the blood banks, working with the mentally ill, placing flags at the graves of our fallen heros, supporting the Holocaust exhibits, lobbying our lawmakers to not forget those who sacrificed for our freedoms, telling their stories at schools, always available to do whatever needs to be done for those who may not be able to do for themselves, showing that you never need stop being of service, even when you're out of the service.
This is something we could easily do here. Sure, we do not have anything that equates to a veterans agency and there must be few ex-service organisations that are active other than as social clubs. Whilst we are, possibly, cold and remote we do not lack the ability to criticise our political 'leaders'. Some of that energy could be devoted to good works.
Incidentally, the guy who writes this uses a little mot juste. "Not so lean, not so mean, but still a marine". Maybe those few words that reflect his attitude and his pride summarise the difference between our two countries?
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