Against a black background is the silhouette of a weary man standing below a guard tower. Over head are the acronyms POW and MIA, separated with a star, while below is the declaration, 'You are not forgotten'. This is a description of a military patch I've seen on display in various locations. A similar patch is done with red on a black background.
Of all the patches I've seen over the years, the military ones seem to have the largest impact because of what they mean; both to the wearer and the viewer. For the wearer, they are a statement of past military experience. A Vietnam vet for instance, might wear the POW/MIA patch in recognition of brothers who have long been forgotten by the rest of the nation. For the soldiers who were there, those names and faces will always live.
For the viewer, most of us who have never experienced military service or combat, seeing the display serves as a reminder that freedom is not free. Most of us live comfortable lives with no thought of the struggles of our military men and women. Yet if it weren't for their dedication and sacrificial willingness, our way of life might not be so comfortable.
You know, it wouldn't be such a hard thing for us civilians to support our troops with a few patches of our own. I often think of Korean War vets because their conflict is truly America's forgotten war. Those young men and women went off to south-east Asia at a time when America was still reveling in her WWII victory. They went off to war while their country was mostly oblivious. A patch of remembrance, perhaps the 'In Memory Of Korea War' patch, would serve as a way to remind us of the 36,000 who never came home. It would also encourage Korean vets that we haven't forgotten.
You may think that a simple patch on the back or the sleeve wouldn't amount to much, but that's not the case. Have you seen those vets outside the stores on Veterans Day? You know, the ones selling the poppies to raise money for American vets. I can tell you, having been someone who has done something similar, that those men and women pay close attention to everyone who walks by them. Seeing a patch of support would make their day. Believe me.
The military has gotten a pretty bad rap in this country since the Vietnam era; a rap that I think is totally undeserved. Whether or not we agree on the politics of any given military conflict, the soldiers in uniform all do what they do because they love their country. We citizens ought to respect and appreciate that to the fullest extent. Remember, our military is an all-volunteer force. How many of us would voluntarily risk our lives for our country?
Next time you see a vet with a POW/MIA patch on his jacket, the least you can do is go shake his hand and tell him his service is appreciated.
