Jonathan FloraAmericans love a celebration, and we have gotten pretty good at celebrating just about everything. We have National Pizza Day. National Donut Day. International Talk Like a Pirate Day. There’s probably a National Procrastination Day, too. They haven’t gotten around to scheduling it.
Some causes get an entire month. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And rightly so. Cancer has touched nearly every family in America, mine included. June is LGBTQ Pride Month. But veterans? We get one day that receives far less cultural attention than some monthlong observances. In 2017, President Donald Trump designated November as National Veterans and Military Families Month. But you won’t see most stores breaking out their American flags.
I’m not suggesting we take away anybody’s celebration. But isn’t it interesting that the men and women who helped preserve the freedoms that allow all those celebrations get so little recognition? These freedoms include the freedom to celebrate Pride Month and, yes, the freedom to criticize the military. That’s the beauty of America.
You don’t have to agree with the people defending your freedom to benefit from their sacrifice. I served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and in the Ohio National Guard. I’m proud of that service. But I don’t consider myself a hero. Most veterans I know, especially those who saw combat, don’t either.
We served for different reasons: patriotism, family tradition, the feeling of being called to action. And some of us were young enough to think jumping out of a perfectly good airplane sounded like a terrific idea. And it was. Besides, I know enough pilots who have told me there is no such thing as a perfectly good airplane.
Those who have served share something important. We raised our right hands and swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States — not a political party, not a president. The Constitution. And that oath didn’t come with a guaranteed return ticket.
When did showing respect for America become so difficult for people who have benefited so enormously from living here? Especially professional athletes. We’ve watched players kneel during the national anthem and athletes stand with their hands at their sides, seemingly unable to muster even a modest acknowledgment of the flag.
Then there’s WNBA star Sophie Cunningham. While WNBA teams sprint off the court before the national anthem plays, Cunningham stands with her hand over her heart. Her family has a history of military service, and she’s proud of it. Apparently, the most controversial move in professional basketball isn’t a flagrant foul. (We know WNBA officials rarely call those.) It’s acknowledging the flag.
In professional sports leagues where players can express any political opinion they please, showing respect for the American flag can draw criticism. And walking off the court is apparently just another pregame routine. LeBron James is one of the worst offenders. What an embarrassment he has become. The billionaire has made his fortune playing basketball in America, yet he behaves like a petulant child during the national anthem.
James has every right to his opinions, and he has plenty. He also has every right to act like an idiot. And I have every right to say out loud that his antics are immature and embarrassingly disconnected from the sacrifices that made his extraordinary American success story possible.
Here’s a guy who has spent his entire adult life living like royalty. Fans call him King James. Apparently, nobody told His Majesty that Americans got rid of kings about 250 years ago. You don’t have to love every politician. You don’t have to agree with every war. You don’t even have to like the guy standing next to you. But would it kill you to stand respectfully for two minutes?
Apparently, for some, that’s a pretty demanding athletic event. Athletes can run 40-yard dashes until they hurl. But to stand for the flag, the national anthem? Well, now that’s just asking too much.
During my years at Walt Disney Studios, I had the privilege of serving as one of the presidents of Disney SALUTE, our veterans organization. One of my favorite goals was organizing Veterans Day events on the studio lot in Burbank, California. We brought in Medal of Honor recipients, fellow veterans, and Disney executives to speak with employees to help people understand who serves, why we serve, and what that service means.
I wanted employees to meet the people behind the uniform because most veterans are ordinary Americans who once did something extraordinary. They stepped forward. Only 1% of our population does this. And believe me, when a Medal of Honor recipient speaks, even Hollywood executives discover the value of listening.
Another holiday Americans routinely misunderstand is Memorial Day. Every May, somebody wishes me a “Happy Memorial Day.” I appreciate the sentiment, but that’s a little like wishing somebody a happy funeral. Good intentions, wrong occasion. Memorial Day honors those who died serving our country, those who, as Abraham Lincoln said, gave “the last full measure of devotion.” They never came home to enjoy the freedoms they helped protect.
Veterans Day is different. Veterans Day honors all who served, living and dead. Most veterans don’t need a parade. They don’t expect a free breakfast, a special parking space, or somebody buying them a beer, although I would not discourage that last one.
What matters is that Americans understand what service requires: the willingness to go when called, the missed birthdays, the empty chairs at Thanksgiving, the families waiting for a phone call, and those who never made it home. I don’t begrudge anybody a month of recognition. But I do wonder what it says about our priorities when we devote more calendar space to celebrating our identities than recognizing those who defended our right to express them.
Our patriotism should extend beyond Veterans Day. What if we treated our veterans’ service as something worth celebrating the other 364 days? The next time the national anthem plays, instead of looking for an opportunity to make a statement, take a moment to remember the people who made it possible for us to make one.
To my fellow veterans, thank you for your service. And to those still serving, thank you for standing watch. God bless you. And God bless America.
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Jonathan Flora is an award-winning movie producer and director with over 20 years at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. A writer, commentator, 82nd Airborne veteran, and co-founder of Lamplight Entertainment, he is happily married to producer and media host Deborah Flora.
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