Americans haven’t always been grateful to veterans, particularly during politically divisive times, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss reflected Monday to about 100 people assembled in honor of Veterans Day in Evanston’s Fountain Square.
“The Vietnam era is not something that I lived through, but my parents were young adults during the Vietnam era, and I grew up hearing a lot from them about how confused this country got during that time… about how the fact that the turmoil and ferment and opposition to the war, which was an important and legitimate discussion for the country to have, turned into hostility to the men and the women who served,” Biss said. “What a confused and messed up and dangerous way that is for a country to be.”
Members of Evanston American Legion Post 42 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7186, who served in various conflicts from the Vietnam War to the Gulf War, listened to his words.
Biss reiterated his point that while people may have differing opinions on what the United States’ military policy should be, Americans should not take their frustrations out on individual men and women who have served in the military. “Take it up with the Commander in Chief, because the men and the women who volunteer to serve are doing something incredibly important, and they are owed our appreciation for a whole bunch of reasons,” he said.
Biss called serving in the military a “noble and generous form of volunteerism.”
“We honor service, we honor volunteerism, ” he said. “The best thing that happens among human beings is when we say, ‘I’m going to spend some time trying to do something for somebody else.
“Whatever divisions exist in the country and whatever complaints we have with the person who is making the decisions on behalf of our foreign policy, it is pivotal for us to come together as a people and support the spirit of volunteerism that underlies the selfless decision that the men and women who served in uniform made and that defines their lives,” he said.
“I’m saying all of this, as I think you know, because I think we are in a period now of historic division, and we’re potentially entering a period of even greater division and more intense polarization, and potentially a time when the military will be used as a tool to divide,” Biss said. “We cannot allow that to get in the way of our appreciation and reverence for those who signed up to serve.”
In his closing remarks, Gregory Lisinski of American Legion Post 42 told the crowd that he appreciated Biss’ words and added some personal comments. “Do onto others as you would have them do to you. Love one another. Fight for your principles and freedoms. Believe your beliefs, and don’t be afraid, but also, love one another. God bless America.”
Ken Wideman, who fought in Vietnam for 10 months between 1966 and 1967, said he could relate to Biss’ speech, because he remembered just how unpopular the war in Vietnam was, and how returning soldiers were treated once they came home.
“The American people didn’t treat us right, and he (Biss) knows that… Some veterans were spit on, yelled at and stuff thrown at them. They didn’t understand what we were fighting for — the American public — during that time,” Wideman said.
Wideman said over time, Americans’ views of Vietnam veterans changed. “Today, the veterans is at the top of the list in America now, because the American people understand us, and they understand our families now.”
