Article November 11, 2013 Issue

What makes a veteran?

Sandy Sandberg

Glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good.

—Romans 2:10
New International Version

On November 11—a holiday in the United States, Britain, Canada, and other countries set aside to honor those who have served in the armed forces—it seems appropriate to ask, What comes to mind when you think of a veteran? A soldier receiving a medal? A white-haired guy wearing a baseball cap with the name of a navy ship on it? Or some young man or woman in uniform, waiting for a connecting flight at the airport on the way home from deployment overseas? Or maybe someone in a wheelchair who is disabled, or even someone who is homeless or unemployed? These views do indeed describe some folks who have served in the military, but there’s an entirely different way of thinking about veterans. Christian Science shows us how.