Why has America stopped loving her veterans?

Published 12:39 pm Friday, March 21, 2025

I come from a long line of military warriors: My grandfather fought in World War I. My uncle was a Navy veteran. My father and father-in-law were Korean War Veterans. My husband, Kenny, and I met while I was assigned to the Pentagon and he was assigned to Fort Myer, Virginia. We are 23-year and 20-year veterans, consecutively. Veterans are our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands, and neighbors. When did America stop loving us? While I was assigned to the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, we were informed that we would be deploying to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm while we were performing training exercises at Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After arriving in Riyadh, Saddam Hussein did not ask if we were Republicans or Democrats when Scud Missiles were fired at our location every night. While I was stationed in Saudi Arabia, I received a letter from former Milledgeville Mayor, Dr. James Baugh, recognizing my combat deployment and offering encouragement and love from the citizens of Milledgeville. A plaque was placed in the Milledgeville Post Office with all the names of military personnel deployed to Saudi Arabia from Milledgeville. I remember all the yellow ribbons displayed around the city of Milledgeville when I returned home. After Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, I was assigned to the Pentagon where I met the love of my life. We were married on my mother's front porch here in Milledgeville on May 29, 1995, (Memorial Day). The Rev. Peyton B. Cook officiated the ceremony. On our first wedding anniversary I was stationed in Seoul Korea, and he was still assigned to Fort Myer, Virginia. After I returned from Seoul Korea, I was reassigned to the Pentagon. I was at our home in Dale City, Virginia, on maternity leave with our 12-day old daughter after giving birth on August 30, 2001 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, when the Pentagon was attacked on September 11, 2001. Those attackers did not care if we were conservative or liberal; only that we were Americans. I don't know why America has stopped loving her veterans, but I do know that veterans have not stopped loving America. We volunteered to serve and defend America all around the world. We missed birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and even burials of family members and loved ones. Some veterans gave the ultimate sacrifice for their love for this country, I think of the retired veterans currently residing at the Georgia War Veterans Home here in Milledgeville. I think of all the veterans I encounter when driving around Milledgeville with their Disabled Veterans tags on their cars and trucks. I think of all the veterans I meet and talk to at the Milledgeville Community-based Outpatient Clinic, and the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia, while attending medical appointments. I think of all the new recruits stationed at Basic Training facilities and at historic and prestigious Military Academies all around America. I pray America will rise to the occasion and care for us and relearn how to love, respect, protect, and honor her Veterans again. Janice Clemons Ward Sergeant First Class (Ret.) United States Army

Milledgeville