Let Us Honor Our Veterans

Let Us Honor Our Veterans
By Bobby Bock
NAPS Southeast Area Vice President

It is that time of year when we pause to celebrate Veterans Day. I still remember the day I enlisted in the U.S. Army. I went in as a boy and came out a man. The military instilled in me core values—loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

To this day, I continue to live by those values. Loyalty and integrity, in particular, guide my daily life.

I often think about “the dash”—the line that represents the time between the year you were born and the year you die. How we choose to live that dash is what truly matters. For me, it always has been about living with integrity.

Today, there are approximately 1.3 million active-duty troops serving our nation. In addition, we honor 16 million veterans, including nearly 5 million disabled veterans. Some of their injuries are visible, but many are not. I know this firsthand.

After a serious motor vehicle accident, I spent six months in a military hospital. I came close to losing my leg and, to this day, I walk with a three-inch difference in length on my right side, requiring special shoes provided by the Veterans Administration. Ultimately, I retired from the Army due to my disabilities.

Veterans Day was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. As a disabled veteran, I was especially grateful to begin a second career with the Postal Service—a workplace long recognized as one of the most military-friendly employers in the nation. Today, nearly 69,000 veterans are part of the Postal Service workforce, including about 29,000 who are disabled.

The Postal Service not only values the service of veterans, but also provides dedicated support through its Veterans Program team. I want to take a moment to thank Martin Miera, Military Program Specialist, for his support and contributions to this column.

So, as many of us enjoy time off on Veterans Day, let us all remember the true meaning of this federal holiday. It is a time to honor the sacrifices and service of those who have worn the uniform.

Until next time, Robert Bock, U.S. Army retired.