Blessings on our veterans; we owe them a lot
Tuesday’s election in Madera County had an unprecedented turnout of voters. I arrived at the Madera County Clerk’s office at around 7 p.m. Cars lined the lane designated for access to the ballot drop-box. The cars, as they had been doing all day, I’m told, just kept coming. The lines to register to vote and the ones to cast ballots were long in spite of how efficient the polling workers were. Keep in mind many of these poll workers have been collecting ballots and assisting voters for the previous 10 days. Democracy at work could be observed and participated in from 7 a.m. to past 8 p.m. There were those procrastinators in action again.
With the election over, the employees of the Postal Service have to be among those who are relieved. The mass mailers that have clogged our mailboxes have stopped. Each mailer received had to be counted and logged in by the mail handlers and then delivered to the citizens’ mailboxes. They were bulky enough for the post people who drive vehicles, imagine the loads carried by the ones who primarily walk their routes.
On Tuesday I collected a couple of days’ worth of mail and my post office box was crammed full of election ads. I also got four other bulk mail circulars from local businesses. I think this is a poor time to avail one’s business of this particular type of leaflet. Such a waste of paper.
After the election flyers received a cursory glance, I tore our name and address off and placed the rest of the mailer in the recycle bin. The mere fact that these circulars will be recycled gives them their only true value.
Electing our government officials is one of our most precious freedoms. Freedoms such as that of speech, religion, and assembly, are precious. We have our military veterans to thank for these blessings.
Sunday is Veterans Day. It means so very much more than merely another three-day holiday. Celebrated each year on Nov. 11, it commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the ceasefire ending hostilities of World War I between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. The document was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. This country’s Veteran’s Day replaced the former Armistice Day in 1954 according to Google.
When our military veterans give up a portion of their youth to serve this country or fight in wars on foreign soil this nation assumes a debt to these men and women. A debt that is owed them for the rest of their lives.
If these veterans have medical needs we owe them health care. If they cannot provide for their own housing needs we owe them a place to live. If they cannot support themselves we owe them a pension. Moreover, when they die, as all people will, we owe them a military funeral to show our appreciation for their sacrifices. In too many cases the latter is the only one fulfilled. The Veterans of Foreign War 1981 and American Legion Post 11 of Madera are comprised of dedicated men and women who help their fellow comrades-in-arms in many ways. They also provide community support activities and hold open to the public events so the residents of Madera can get to know them, their facilities and the services they provide.
Thank a veteran for their service. It is the least we can do.
Pleasant nights and long days and pleasant nights, have a great weekend.
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Readers, may contact Tami Jo Nix by emailing tamijonix@gmail.com or following @TamiJoNix on Twitter.
