This past weekend, Americans across the country celebrated Veterans Day. Perhaps a more appropriate term should be “honored” or “observed” as opposed to “celebrated,” but considering my email inbox was filled with “flash sale” notifications, and every TV commercial was announcing 25%-50% off pre-Black Friday sales, I guess one could say Veterans Day has become a celebration of paying lower prices for clothing and appliances.

Historically, Veterans Day can be traced back to the end of World War I (also known as “The Great War” or the “war to end all wars”), when Germany and the Allied nations called a cease fire (armistice) at approximately 11:00 am on November 11^th, 1918. Although the war didn’t officially end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, the United States Congress declared November 11^th as “Armistice Day,” and it was later made an official holiday in May of 1938, dedicated to the notion of world peace. However, as we all know, World War I did not turn out to be the “war to end all wars,” or the cause of world peace, as World War II was lurking just around the corner.

After World War II, which the www.va.gov website describes as a war that “required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen in the Nation’s history,” Congress amended the wording of “Armistice Day” to become “Veterans Day” in June of 1954. Instead of just honoring veterans of World War I, Veterans Day became “a celebration to honor [all] America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.” Veterans Day has since been recognized as a day to honor veterans of not only these two great wars, but also the Vietnam War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I grew up having a very innate sense of reverence for veterans and military service members, which was likely a product of my mother and stepfather being incredibly patriotic. My stepdad had been a U.S. Air Force pilot in World War II, and we always had an American flag proudly flying at our home. My parents were active supporters of the veteran community, and my mom still hosts Marines at her home on Thanksgiving and proudly displays some kind of bumper sticker on her car dedicated to the Disabled American Vets or the Wounded Warrior Project. My stepdad was an amazing father, husband, and role model. In my mind, he was also the ultimate example of someone from the “Greatest Generation.”

As much as I have a deep respect for the historical significance of the wars that contributed to America becoming a great nation, ever since I can remember, I’ve had a near obsession with the World War II era in particular. More specifically, my interest spans the years from the 1920’s through the 1940’s. I have always been completely drawn to this time period that produced the “Greatest Generation,” and I find myself consistently feeling nostalgic for this time span in history, even though I never lived it. I often feel like I was born in the wrong era, or perhaps I had some kind of past life experience.

I’m not trying to romanticize this period as being free from hardship, because it was one of the most tumultuous and volatile times in modern history. After the economic wealth and expansion that took place in the United States in the 1920’s, the stock market crash of 1929 was a devastating blow to the country, resulting in ten years of the worst economic depression in the history of industrialized America. During the Great Depression, millions of people lost everything, including their savings, their homes, their jobs, and their families. This was immediately followed by the start of World War II in 1939, which lasted until 1945 and resulted in even more loss, adversity, and sacrifice.

Yet, this was also an incredible time in American history in terms of the collective capabilities of the American people. The extreme ups and downs of this 30-year time period produced a generation that was the most resilient, hard-working, patriotic, driven, and motivated generation in the history of modern America. I cannot say it any more perfectly than the book jacket notes on the 1998 bestseller written by Tom Brokaw, appropriately titled, “The Greatest Generation.”

“This generation was united not only by a common sense of purpose but by common values – duty, honor, courage, service, love of family and country, and, above all, responsibility for oneself.”

Rather than falling apart, at a time when things were already at their worst, Americans who were part of the “Greatest Generation” came together and rose to the challenge of greatness. Instead of allowing themselves to be victims, they stood in solidarity to defend the country and support the war effort, both at home and abroad. As a result, we became the strongest and most independent nation in the world.

The U.S. became a superpower after World War II, both economically and in terms of military power. Our economic growth was faster than other developed countries, and we had the most stable political system in the world. We stood for democracy, freedom, and human rights. We were known for our innovative advancements in science and technology and the strength and power of our military. Our place seemed solidified as the most powerful and influential country in the world.

Yet, as the common sayings go, “All good things come to an end,” and “All great nations fall.” Sadly, it seems we are standing on the edge of that failure, which has been slowly creeping up on us since the 1960’s. In the past we came together to face a common enemy, whether that enemy was the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, or the 9/11 attacks. Now we are so focused on fighting over trivial shit within our own country that we don’t see the threats of foreign enemies that are standing on our doorstep, waiting for the opportune moment to step inside.

America is not perfect, and it never has been, but adversity used to bring people together, unite the country, and make us strong. Now it seems to divide us and make us weak. As our country continues to spiral downward, and we get closer to the very real possibility of another severe economic depression and the threat of World War III, I find myself alternating between feelings of dread, anger, shock, hope, and disbelief, wondering about the future of America and whether or not we possess the ability to come together to defeat a common foreign enemy when we can’t even get our shit together to collectively identify as Americans or take pride in our country.

The population of the “Greatest Generation,” like my stepdad and my grandparents, is mostly deceased, and America has lost our way when it comes to the values and patriotism that once made this nation great. We no longer have a shared sense of American pride or national identity, and we increasingly focus on issues of diversity and separation, as opposed to shared similarities and unity.

Instead of coming together for the collective good of the country and truly trying to uplift our communities, we fight on social media to express our individuality, cry about being oppressed, and demean each other like catty school girls. Instead of encouraging people to be high achievers and strive for greatness, we celebrate a culture that promotes mediocrity, entitlement, and the expectation of equity without effort. Instead of investing in the growth of our country and truly promoting the value of American made goods and services, we tax the fuck out of small businesses and make it difficult for them to succeed. Instead of protecting and defending our borders, we leave ours wide open and send our money and resources to other countries to protect and defend theirs.

 We have allowed our infrastructure to crumble, our society to divide, and our economy to tank. We now have the largest national debt in the history of America and no viable means of boosting our economy anytime in the near future. Our once great military now ranks as “weak,” and the privileges and freedoms that came at a cost to so many are now frequently taken for granted by the masses.

For some reason I can’t fathom, many Americans seem to hate this country and everything it stands for, and they are determined to see our demise. How the fuck did we get here? More mindboggling is the fact that we have allowed ourselves to be taken over by a federal government administration that punishes people who stand up for our freedoms and beliefs, and those of us who do take pride in America and love our country are shamed and called “domestic terrorists” or “a threat to democracy.”

The true threat to democracy (or more accurately, the true threat to our once great Constitutional Republic) is the decline of a population with common values and a common interest in the welfare of America as the greatest free nation in the world. It is the loss of the “Greatest Generation” and the contributions they made to this country. In their wake, we are left with successive generations who no longer feel a sense of duty or obligation to contribute to the betterment of society. And frankly, that’s fucking sad.

So, if you found yourself enjoying three days off this past weekend, and you took advantage of some Veterans Day sale prices while out shopping, that’s awesome. I love a good sale and an extra day off as much as anyone. I just hope you took a moment to remember the historical and patriotic significance of why we even have a Veterans Day holiday in the first place. As much as I am disgusted by the current state of our military’s wokeness and concerned about our ability to honor and defend the United States, there are still good people serving this country. The next time you see a veteran or an active-duty military member, shake their hand and sincerely thank them for their service.

And if you happen to be one of those lucky people with a relative or a neighbor from the “Greatest Generation,” spend a few minutes with them and soak up some true patriotic greatness. Without their service and sacrifice, we wouldn’t have these freedoms we all take for granted. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, only about 167,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are still alive today. Like the holiday flash sale that expires at midnight, they will be gone before you know it.

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara