US Wellness Meats Salute To Veterans

A Heartfelt Tribute To Veterans

Veteran’s Day is a day set aside to celebrate our military veterans! We are constantly reminded of the sacrifices made by service men and women and their families. USWM offers this special tribute to all of our Veterans! We would like to honor all the service men and women that risk their lives day in and day out for the freedom of this great country we call home.

Veteran’s Day was originally known as Armistice Day and is the anniversary of the end of WW1. Hostilities ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. In 1954 the day became known as Veterans Day. It is tradition here in the U.S. of A. for a wreath to be placed on the tomb of the unknown soldier in Arlington Cemetery. World War 1 lasted from the summer of 1914 to November 1918 and claimed the lives of an estimated 16.5 million people – military personnel and civilians. The United States entered the war on April 6, 1917 and lost over 116,000 soldiers in about a year and a half. It was to become known as The Great War and encompassed the globe. America has had casualties in nearly 80 wars and conflicts since the Revolutionary War. This accounts for nearly 3 million casualties, but it doesn’t count all of the lives changed from loss of husbands and wives, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. We hope for peace, but when called upon, the American soldier has proven time and again that they are prepared and willing to defend freedom here and abroad.

To all those who have served and sacrificed with honor in service of this country, we say Thank You and God Bless! To the families of those who have paid the ultimate price, we also offer our sincere thanks and appreciation for your sacrifice.

Sacrifices

We don’t have a monarchy ruling here in the United States. Although we see the same people hold power in DC for decades, there isn’t a king or queen sitting on a throne. Men and women nearly 250 years ago, who had taken the dangerous boat ride across the the Atlantic Ocean, decided they had been taxed, over-regulated, and treated as serfs long enough. The Boston Tea Party took place at the Harbor in Boston, Massachusetts on December 16, 1773. That act of rebellion against the crown was the start of something of an experiment the likes of which had never been known. Our forebearers put their lives on the line to make a statement in favor of individual freedom and liberty. Nearly two years later on April 19, 1775, the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. From that moment on, history would be changed. Debates raged about the kind of government America should have. Once the dust had settled, a constitutional republic was determined to have won the day. Benjamin Franklin famously told Elizabeth Willing Powel, a prominent social figure in Philadelphia, that they had decided upon a republic…”if you can keep it”, he said. Franklin estimated it would take a lot of work to maintain this type of government that Lincoln later described as “of the people, by the people, for the people.”

In the nearly 250 years since those first shots were fired, our country has endured many wars. Some here and some overseas. Every time war or conflict breaks out, young Americans sign up to protect the freedoms we all enjoy. This is not to say that war is good. Any one who has fought in a war might beg to differ. It is to say that there are always unselfish people who stand up and present themselves as living sacrifices so the next generation will be able to continue enjoying the fruits of liberty. It’s a choice veterans have made to protect something we all should hold very dear. Take a moment to consider this sacrifice and all of the families who have given up so much over 250 years to ensure that this grand experiment was not in vain.

Vive la liberté!

There’s a moment toward the end of the movie, “The Patriot”, where American forces have defeated the British in Yorktown. Characters Benjamin Martin and Jean Villeneuve exchange appreciation for the victory and subsequent liberty. “Vive la liberté!”, Villeneuve says to Martin. The movie is a powerful reminder of the struggles that secured our independence and the sacrifices incurred.

This generation is over 240 years removed from the conflict that secured this independence. We never want to forget the sacrifices made on our behalf though. Freedom and liberty are two important concepts we should strive to remember, and cherish. Here are a few quotes from that time period. These folks were serious about liberty:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – Declaration of Independence

“I know not what others may choose but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” – Patrick Henry

“Those that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin

“The rights of the individual should be the primary object of all governments.” – Mercy Otis Warren

“Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.” – Thomas Jefferson

“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” – Thomas Paine

Show-Me Heroes Program

US Wellness Meats is a member company of Missouri’s Show-Me Heroes, an effort to hire Missouri’s Veterans. The Show-Me Heroes program was started in 2010 and has become a cooperative effort between Missouri businesses, Army National Guard and the Missouri Division of Workforce Development.

Consider Supporting Veteran’s Organizations

Please take a moment to visit the worthwhile organizations we’ve featured:

PTSD, Substance Abuse and suicide are topics that all too often go together. Check out this article, Addiction and Suicide Amongst Veterans: Finding Hope in the Darkness, about the many resources available to help veterans struggling in these areas.

Additional Veteran’s Resources

Care Packages For Soldiers

A few years ago, we surprised soldiers with some of our favorite snacks! 16 soldiers in Zabul, Afghanistan enjoyed our beef jerky, pemmican, albacore tuna, pouched salmon and an assortment of other healthy snacks. It is our honor to do what we can to ensure our soldiers are fueled with the best soldier snacks while on duty. As pictured below, soldiers are hooking up a sling load to a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter in Afghanistan.

We’d also like to introduce the 426th Brigade Support Battalion of Fort Campbell, KY. During their 426 BSB Org Day, US Wellness Meats was proud to provide all the beef franks and hamburgers they could eat! Here are the troops installing a rocket propelled grenade netting on vehicles to protect them from RPG’s hitting the hull of the vehicle. These were later battle tested while conducting re-supply and recovery missions.

US Wellness Meats has been a regular sponsor of programs designed to send care packages to our troops overseas.

From all the farm families of US Wellness Meats we extend a big salute today and every day to all that have so selflessly served this country.