I served my country to the best of my ability.

Still, despite the uniform (which no longer fits, by the way, but I still have it in a box for safekeeping), dogtags, papers, and whatnot, I feel like I didn't actually serve.  For one thing, I never left the continental United States.  This was during World War II.  I joined the Army Air Corps to travel: and I was stuck in Mississippi or Texas.

Didn't help that at the time I didn't speak much in the way of English.  I spoke only Cajun French.  Yet I was determined to do my duties well, despite the language problems.

Then I find out that I was no longer needed.  Flat feet.  At the time that was frowned upon.  It was like, "Thank you for your service; you are no longer needed.  Now get out and go home".

It truly hurt.  Still hurts deep down inside whenever I think about it.  It was like they had no use for me, even after all the time I had given them.

Now I am in my later eighties and I remember everything that happened.  I can no longer get around nearly as well as I used to (I use a scooter or for short trips, crutches); my body will no longer let me do the things I used to do.  I have had to slow down some and take it easy.  Yet my patriotic heart still beats red, white, and blue.  I am actively involved in any (and all) Veterans or military functions and if I can, I will be there at any parade, celebration, or meeting.  I feel it is all I can do to support my military brothers and sisters.

I will do anything I can to let my Veteran family know that even though I am now an old man, I will pull for them.  The same goes for those kids who now serve.  Whenever I hear of them coming home with parts missing or their brains/minds messed up, I make it a point to visit them at any Veteran's hospital and offer them my prayers or words of encouragement.  After all, they know what honor and sacrifice is about, even though they are over 30 or 40 years younger than me (and even more than that).

Whenever I hear of the government cutting benefits for us Veterans or any other injustice, my heart turns black with anger; it is all I can do to keep from beating them over the head with my crutches or running over them with my scooter.  I see the injustice that Veterans are exposed to every day and it truly saddens me.  This is why you will see me at any meeting or protest, expressing my views.  I fought for that flag that flies high on the flagpole and as a Veteran, it is my right to defend her, even now, not to mention, defend the rights of Veterans everywhere.

This weekend we are celebrating yet another Veteran's Day (which is tomorrow, by the way).  Everywhere people will be honoring those who served and remembering the sacrifices we made so that they can enjoy their freedoms as Americans.  I wish people can remember this not on just one day, but every day.  If it were not for us, we would not be the nation we are today.

If I had my way, I'd see that Veterans are treated fairly and that they are remembered each and every day.  This is why I fight so hard, even now, even though my military days are long past gone.

~Armand P. Moliere', Army Air-Corps.