With Memorial Day just around the corner, there is no better time to contemplate the debt that we Americans owe to our servicemen and women. The life of a member of America’s military is one of modest pay, humble living conditions and of course, at times, great danger and for some, dealing with life-changing injuries. For those who are not inclined to enlist, the military experience may seem so foreign as to be abstract. Current-day service members voluntarily place themselves in extraordinary situations with no expectation of adequate recognition or compensation, only rewards far beyond the material. They leave behind the familiar comforts of civilian life in their hometowns in order to provide military might as our nation’s leaders see fit to use it.
These are the Americans who braved war in ever-changing terms throughout our nation’s history, often sent to parts of the world they could only imagine, only to find that conditions and enemies were far more dreadful than they could have possibly have been prepared for. Ask the disabled veteran or the family of a soldier who did not return, either intact or at all. They’ll tell you that war is not a zero-sum game: in the end, there is much more loss than there is triumph.
This coming weekend, there will be lots of flag waving and talk of appreciation, generally heartfelt and sincere. Politicians will vie for face time with the media to make grand proclamations about their support for America’s fighting men and women. If you happen to catch such a soundbite, keep in mind that revelations of malfeasance at VA hospitals are (literally) last week’s news, reflecting those same politicians’ actual level of interest in the well-being of those same troops once they have served their purpose.
Now let me take a deep breath and step off of my soapbox.
What can we, a local publication with a limited budget and a few good friends in the area do? It’s obvious, right? Hold a contest and give away a spectacular wedding! In the Winter/Spring 2014 issue of Sacramento Bride and Groom we announced Operation Valentine – a wedding giveaway for military couples. Rick Francis, general manager of the Grand Island Mansion, one of Sacramento’s premier and most in-demand wedding venues, offered us the opportunity to assemble a team of the area’s top wedding vendors and professionals and hold a contest to give away a fabulous wedding to to take place on Valentine’s Day 2015. Response from our advertisers was tremendous, and the generosity of the wonderful people involved in Operation Valentine is truly humbling. The total value of the wedding package that we will be giving away is over $25,000!
And to those veterans who read this but will not be entering the contest, let me take this moment to express my appreciation for your service to America. For all of its shortcomings, The United States is the greatest country in the world and it is so in large part because of the sacrifices made by people like you, and we, the staff of Sacramento Bride and Groom salute you.
