Honor the Soldier, Condemn the War

In 1938, Armistice Day, “a day dedicated to the cause of world peace,” was designated an official holiday. So, at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, people and officials in many nations still pause to remember those who have died in the prosecution of World War I and of other destructive wars since then. The American holiday has been expanded to include fallen veterans of all wars, but at its core it remains a clarion call for peace and an end to military conflict.

Many soldiers, who have known first-hand the horrors of war, have called for diplomacy as a better tool than military action. As President, Dwight D. Eisenhower warned of dangers from the military-industrial complex. Secretary of State John Kerry became an outspoken peace activist after serving with honor in the Vietnam War. U.S. Navy Commander Albert Bigelow resigned his commission when he heard of the bombing of Hiroshima, a month before he was eligible for his pension. He later skippered the first ship attempting to disrupt a nuclear test to protest the use of nuclear weapons.

Regardless of policy, our military veterans offered their lives and mental and physical health in service to the nation, and the nation has let too many down—from healthcare to home and food insecurity to the need for lifelong support services. We need to care for our veterans, and follow through on promises made to them, as Sen. Bernie Sanders has so strongly advocated.

Even more, our leaders need to consider the human, societal, and environmental costs of war before embarking on future military action.

In the spirit of that 1938 designation, PDA honors our veterans by working for peace, advocating for domestic policies that uplift and empower all Americans, and preserving the democratic principles and processes at the foundation of our system of government.

Veterans, we salute your service!

Debra Schrishuhn for the PDA National Team