“What It Means to be a Veteran” by Conall Donovan

I believe that all veterans should be considered heroes. A veteran is someone who believes that our rights as American citizens are worth fighting for and it is worth their sacrificing their own safety to ensure we have ours. Veterans should be treated with respect. They are very brave, selfless, and patriotic.

A veteran’s bravery seems obvious. They are often willing to put their lives on the line to protect our country, our rights as citizens, and our freedom. But there is another form of bravery that is often over looked. Veterans leave everything they have, their families, their homes and their jobs to go to a foreign country often without anyone they know, to fight to protect people in the US they do not even know. As you can see, there are many ways a veteran must be brave, in combat and in their own lives.

Veterans are selfless men and women. They leave the comfort and convenience of their homes in the United States to live in difficult conditions. They eat rations instead of their own home cooked food. They sleep on bunks instead of their comfortable beds and leave their families to be alone. Veterans are selfless enough to maybe give the ultimate sacrifice of risking their lives and safety for us. Veterans should be viewed as heroes by all citizens, even if you do not believe in the war. These reasons prove that veterans are selfless.

Veterans are the ultimate example of patriotism. They love our country and serve it without expecting very much in return. Veterans sometimes come back from war wounded permanently and are expected to return to their lives. This is often difficult for them but they still respect and love our country. Veterans are also patriotic because sometimes the volunteer for more than one tour of duty.
In conclusion, veterans are very brave, selfless, and patriotic. I hope that one day all citizens will appreciate and respect the veterans that served our country. Whether or not you support the war, we should all support the brave men and women who fight for our freedom and for rights of people all over the world.