Craig Daily Press

Craig — While accepting the Republican vice-presidential nomination July 27, 1920, Calvin Coolidge made the following statement:

“The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”

On Saturday, we have a chance to remember and honor our nation’s defenders — past, present and future. The day is Armed Forces Day, and as part of that, there is the Hometown Heroes picnic at City Park.

The day will bring faces to our history, local military men and women who have fought and continue to fight for our country and the rights we have as U.S. citizens.

You will get a chance to hear what they have to say, learn from their experiences and honor the veterans who are not able to be there.

It’s a moment to reflect on their lives.

It’s a moment to honor the work our veterans have done and the work our current military members continue to do.

And it’s a moment to reflect on our country and how the attitudes toward the military have changed. We are in a war with no end in sight, but the cries decrying the soldiers are almost non-existent compared to the Vietnam War.

The lack of respect given to those military men and women is a travesty, and though it may be a small consolation to those who served in Vietnam, we as a country have learned our lesson: That we may disagree with a war, but we still need to honor those who stand in harm’s way for our country.

Part of this event is a free lunch, but the way some residents in the past have treated this has come across as disrespectful toward our veterans, showing up only for the free food and not listening to the stories of the speakers.

If that is your plan this year, ask yourself this: Is it really worth a free cheeseburger to be insulting?

They don’t deserve that.

So please, come out. Listen. Remember and honor Armed Forces personnel.