A Veteran On Veterans Day

I don't wear my veteran status on my sleeve as some do—quite literally. Everyone has the right to choose how to define themselves. In fact, we all put up a screen through which we prefer to be seen. Most people around me at work and among my extended acquaintances are either unaware of my service or have entirely forgotten. That's how infrequently I bring it up. 

Here is the thing: I'm mostly proud of my service. Mostly. Talking about it too often leads to stories of events I would rather not discuss. But once the conversation is rolling, dropping the "I'd rather not talk about it" bomb is an overly dramatic suspension many people use to imply the worst. And let's face it, leaving people to imagine things are worse than reality isn’t a good idea.

I mostly forget about my service throughout the year because there isn't much about being a veteran that applies to what I do for a living. I don't think about my service very often.

Then Veteran's Day rolls around, and I get frustrated that there isn't more recognition of my service—which is stupid. Its place in my identity is entirely my doing. One can't have it both ways.

Many vets change their Facebook profile photo on Veterans Day to an image of them in uniform or their unit patch. It's great to see an old photo of them in uniform. It's nostalgic and cool to see images of people before I knew them. But I'm not comfortable rolling like that. It isn't my style to grab props even when I want them. 

Stupid human tricks.

I’ve drafted this post (or one like it) for years and never published it. Well, every year except this one. It has taken a decade to get my head around the dichotomy.