Warlock Jeff Bowling reached out to me, asking if I would like to contribute to the Infernal Legion’s Veterans Day episode. After a quick back and forth, I set to writing. What came out is not at all what I was anticipating going in. It is something that needed to be said however, so I sent it off. Below you will find linked, the Veterans Day episode of The Infernal Legion, opened with my essay. I hope you enjoy it and the episode.
Veterans Day 2021
To many Americans Veterans day is yet one more day to celebrate commercialism and consumption. Consumption of durable goods with set life spans both manufactured and obsolete through upgrade. It’s a day to get a percentage off on furniture or electronics, perhaps even a free meal if you are a family member of a veteran and spend your day with them, not in honor of their sacrifices, but to score a few morsels that you in all probability do not need.
Veterans day to many is the only time they even think about American soldiers. And for what a fleeting moment? Soldiers are typically from lower to middle class households where military service is one of only a small handful of options for advancement and education. These are the Americans that are doing the fighting and dying on your behalf and you spend less than a single day acknowledging them? Sure you may change your social media profile picture for the day or tell the small handful of veterans that are in your social circle thank you, but is that enough? Is that the total value you place on your safety and security, a thank you for your service, then you’re on your way?
Veterans are not your social media influencers, nor do they want to be put up on a pedestal. They aren’t pounding at your door asking for your time and attention, but you owe everything that you have to them. The reason you do not have drones firing missiles at you and your neighbors is because of their sacrifices. The reason why we don’t have regular terrorist attacks is because of their service. The reason that you don’t have to stand up for your own country and fight for your own rights is because there are others that do. Those same others you protest against whey they disagree with your politics. Those same others that you try your best, for at least the duration of a few posts in social media to cancel if they say anything at any time in their lives you don’t happen to agree with.
Warlock Jeff Bowling raised the idea to me that we have a warrior class in our American culture and it seems we do. They are called Americans. Citizens who take their futures and the future of their fellow citizens into their own hands. They train, fight, suffer and die so you can sit on your ass, binge a few more episodes and order dinner to be delivered for a modest fee. They understand what sacrifice means deep into the marrow of their bones while you worry about the lack of attention your comment or photo received. Veterans know what it means to appreciate what they have, because they have to live without it. Veterans know what it means to love and respect because they have lost their brothers in sisters in arms whom they loved and respected.
So before you jump to make your post, celebrating veterans; before you tell someone, thank you for your service ask yourself this: Do you deserve the right to be acknowledged by these men and women of substance? Does a sheep thank their shepherd? Do they thank the guard dogs that keep them safe from the coyote? If you have never served your country, do you deserve the right to be called a citizen by it? Unfortunately the answer continues to be yes. So make yourself feel better for acknowledging those of real substance for a day. Feel good about your pathetic leach-like existence for another twelve waking hours.
But perhaps, you could do just a little more. Perhaps you could acknowledge veterans, not with a post or a thank you, but by your service. There are a number of ways you can actually serve those who have your back, both active and prior service veterans. You could at the minimum donate to veterans organizations, but more appropriately, you could donate your time and attention to veterans in need. There are a number of organizations that you could assist in providing food, shelter, healthcare and company. It takes only a cursory search to find an organization near you.
This is not to say that you need to give of yourself because of some greater good or a debt that society is expecting of you. This is for your own benefit. It doesn’t take a leap in logic to understand that ensuring those that protect you have support, actually helps you in the long run. It also shows that you aren’t the leech that so many others are. Give yourself a reason to look at your own reflection with pride and respect. Show that you are thankful before you say it.
To my brothers and sisters in arms, to the Infernal Legion and to it’s leadership: I see you. I thank you. Hail Satan!
-Reverend Campbell
November, LVI A.S.