Duty, Honor and Country

In Honor of Veterans Day

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.

At precisely eleven AM on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, in the year 1918, the “war to end all wars” concluded. If the people who experienced the nightmare known as World War Two are referred to as the “Greatest Generation” then I submit to you that the wave of humanity fighting in the First World War should be referred to as the “Naïve Generation.”

There was no glory to speak of only the gory mess of millions dead and millions more maimed-their lives destroyed. And the only things that came out of that horrific episode in humanities quest to kill were seeds that involved us in the next encounter which then led to the cold war, which then led to Korea, which then led to Viet Nam, and to the last Gulf War that too ended poetically in the 100th day. Perhaps if the war had lasted 101 days we wouldn’t be there now. But that is a subject for another time. And, of course there were other wars that were also supposed to “end all wars.”

Wars have been with us since time immemorial. When we do not understand someone or don’t like the color of a person’s skin or the tone in a voice or thoughts spoken, we take up arms to destroy that which is different. But don’t forget that most wars are fought because of economics, the current one being no different.

We, as a people, know only too well what that means. We, as a people, have visited the shadow of death in pogroms, the Holocaust, discrimination in the work place, in schools, in the arts. And yet, we as a people, have contributed immeasurably to the betterment of society – the betterment of the human experience.

We recently celebrated the 350th anniversary of our arrival on these shores. It was not an easy journey. We arrived here from distant lands where we felt the wrath of indifference and contempt. We have been tested time and again but we have been true to each and every place we found ourselves and, in particular, to this country which afforded us the greatest comfort and protection – but not without cost.

We contributed to the revolution that gave birth to this great nation – a man named Hayim Solomon comes to mind – who gave his fortune to ensure the survival of the struggle for independence and freedom. There were Americans named Levy and Strauss and Einstein and Brandeis who contributed their efforts to guarantee the continuation of a dream called America.

Each generation has produced faithful and true guardians of democracy from the ranks of immigrants whose only hope was that they could live, as Isaiah said, under their fig tree and feel secure.

Each generation of American Jews answered the call because we knew as Jeremiah instructed us: “Seek the welfare of the land into which I have seen you carried in exile, and pray to the Lord on this land’s behalf; for in its welfare shall you find your welfare.”

And yes, we even took up arms to ensure this freedom and security for all the people of this great land – not just the rich – not only the poor – but everyone who lives in this beacon of hope. We were not born soldiers – we were farmers or tailors or musicians and laborers trying to earn a living to support our families and bring those less fortunate to be with us as we began a new life in a new land.

We became soldiers and airmen and sailors and marines – we fought and some of us died and some of us were injured beyond repair – but we came to the aid of our America. We stand here proud of our contribution to liberty and equality for all. We fought side by side with the Jones’ and Smiths’ – we cheered when they came home from battle as we thanked God for our survival as well. We danced in the streets when wars ended because we loved our liberty. Those who hated us never understood that.

So here we are – four score and ten years after the end of the “War to end all wars,” – not to commemorate a cemetery in honor the Civil War dead as President Abraham Lincoln declared in his famous Gettysburg address, but to pay tribute to all who served from the beginning of our history here in America to today where we see our young men and women sacrifice even more to ensure that the freedom our generation fought for will not be lost. That is the responsibility that each generation takes upon itself – to guarantee the future as we did before. Yes, it was four score and ten years ago that that dreadful encounter with hell ended. And it in memory of all wars that we continue the remembrance from Decoration Day to its new name – Veterans Day.

We pay tribute to all who served and all who continue to serve, and, in particular, all who sacrificed life and limb. May the dreams that brought us to this day not be lost and may those now in harms way find their way back in safety and may we never lose sight of the sacrifice for Duty, Honor and Country. It is not only the American way, it is the Jewish way.