What is a Veteran A "Veteran": whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check payable to "The Untied States of America", for the amount of "up to, and including his life."
That is a honor, and there are way too many people in this country today, who no longer understand that fact.
"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."
Orwell
