Veterans need to share their stories, and not just with each other, but with the rest of the nation, the 3rd Infantry Division’s commander of Division Artillery said Monday.
Col. Shawn Bault, the commander of the 3rd ID’s DIVARTY, encouraged his fellow veterans at Monday’s Veterans Day ceremony to let the rest of the populace know what serving in the military has done for them.
“Share positive stories of your service,” he said. “Let our stories connect Americans with the values and service of the next generation.”
Col. Bault said only 1% of the population serves in the population and of that total, nearly 60% already have a connection with the armed services through friends or family.
“It is an indicator that veterans have first-hand knowledge of the benefits of a military career and can bridge the gap between those who are familiar with military life and those who have never considered the military a career,” he said.
“These great Americans we honor today served a large portion of their lives not for themselves but for our country. We have an armed forces that thrives on being the best on the earth.”
Col. Bault pointed out that veterans are found in key positions across all levels of government and as teachers, health care professionals “and continuing to run into harm’s way as first responders.”
“Our veterans make a difference every day making the country a better place to live for everyone and for future generations,” Bault said.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, there are more than 8,000 veterans living in Liberty County, accounting for nearly 12% of the county’s total population. Pew Research Council said there was as many as 18 million veterans in the U.S. in 2023.
Col. Bault stressed the connection between the division and its neighboring communities, particularly with the local veterans.
“The 3rd Infantry Division has a long history with the local community,” he said. “The division draws its strength and inspiration from the veterans in our local community.”
Bault also praised the family members for their support of veterans and for their support when the veterans were on active duty.
“The families sacrifice alongside their veterans,” he said.
Bault also cited a speech from Theodore Roosevelt, also a veteran, in his closing remarks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6602 on Monday morning: “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
“On behalf of a grateful nation,” Col. Bault said, “thanks for being in the arena.”