Monday was Veteran's day. Sunday was Armistice day. Sunday was also my father's birthday. He was a World War II Veteran and would have been 102 years old. Every year on his birthday, I wear one of his bow ties.
We had a parade in New York and not as many people turned out to support our Veterans as I would have liked. When I was young, growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania, everyone showed up for the Veteran's Parade to applaud the Veterans who were squeezing into their uniforms from World War II or Korea.
I was scared about going into the Army but fortunately my draft number was 420, so fate spared me. Still, I recognized that our troops represent our way of life and our democratic values.
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I met a fellow from outside of the United States who told me something very interesting. He said that in Europe, we care about blood and land. We grew up in a region and we are part of a nationality. Italians love Italy, the French love France and the Germans love Germany. He went on to say that in the United States, it is not about blood or land. It is about a way of life, a mentality and a set of values.
I have never heard it said that way, but it occurred to me how true it is.
I feel bad on this Veteran's week for our troops who are on mast at the border between the United States and Mexico, living in tents with limited electricity for what I see as a ploy to drive voters to the polls by President Trump.
It is bad enough that it is all going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars to move 15,000 troops to the border, that they are not going to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving with their family and that they are going to have to endure uncomfortable conditions with whatever the current day equivalent to K-rations are.
You can tell me that this doesn't have anything to do with healthcare and you are probably right. But it is inconsistent with what I consider to be the values that my father fought for and that my uncle died for.
I do hope President Trump reverses his position and allows the troops to come home in time for Thanksgiving.
Phil is a member of AHRA, HFMA, AAMI and the Cryogenic Society of America. He has contributed to a number of magazines and journals and has addressed trade groups.
Phil's proudest achievement is that he has been happily married to his wife Barbara since 1989, who helped him found DOTmed in 1998.
