In just a few hundred years, our nation has fought through conflicts from the Revolutionary War, which began the country itself, to both World Wars, to the Korean and Vietnam Wars and now to Afghanistan and Iraq. But while not all of those conflicts have been popular, no matter what one’s political position is, it is important to honor U.S. veterans for what they have been through to protect the United States.  

Some argue that the reason veterans are not honored as much as they should be is because we as a nation have distanced ourselves from the conflicts in which we’re involved. While in decades and centuries prior, people may have felt the hardship the war caused through the enforcement of food stamps and propaganda encouraging them to reserve resources as much as possible, those days are far gone. In fact, many people don’t even know whether we’re involved in conflicts at the moment, much less where or how they can contribute. As a nation, it seems, we have stopped caring. This crisis is detailed in Rachel Maddow’s 2012 book Drift, where she states that the decision to go to war has become too easy because people are unaware and uncaring of the cost of human life.

Others argue that because they are anti-war, they don’t feel the need to honor those who have been to war. However, no matter the reasons for dissent, it is impossible to argue that what veterans have been through is not worth respect. According to a study from the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit that researches the armed forces, over 20 percent of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD, depression or both. The experience of fighting clearly takes a great toll on a person both mentally and physically, and whether people agree with the decision to fight or not, respecting the mental health of people who participated in war on behalf of the United States is important.

The best way to honor veterans is simply to care. Donate to an organization that helps veterans. Spend time attending a Veterans Day event in your area or visiting a veterans’ hospital. Take time to remove your political views for just a bit and simply celebrate the Americans who have fought for us since this country began.