Dec. 7, 1941: “The Day that Will Live in Infamy” Pearl Harbor was attacked.

Sept. 11, 2001: The terrorist war stuck the United States as never before.

Dec. 7, 1941: Planes came, piloted by those obsessed to destroy us and our way of life.

Sept. 11, 2001: Planes came, piloted by those obsessed to destroy us and our way of life.

Dec. 7, 1941: Attacks were brutal and vicious; thousands lost their lives.

Sept. 11, 2001: Attacks were brutal and vicious; thousands lost their lives.

Dec. 7: 1941: A nation mourned and wondered, “How could this have happened?”

Sept. 11, 2001: A nation mourned and wondered, “How could this have happened?”

Dec. 7, 1941: Americans rallied and vowed to avenge those killed.

Sept. 11, 2001: Americans rallied and vowed to avenge those killed.

Dec. 7, 1941: The war was waged against foes in two lands.

Sept. 11, 2001: The war was waged against foes in two lands.

Dec. 7, 1941: Volunteers come from across our land, from east to west, north to south, from cities and towns.

Sept. 11, 2001: Volunteers come from across our land, from east to west, north to south, from cities and towns.

Dec. 7, 1941: Farmers, teachers, painters, nurses, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters.

Sept. 11, 2001: Farmers, teachers, painters, nurses, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters.

Dec. 7, 1941: Soldiers, airmen, seamen, embracing the mission.

Sept. 11, 2001: Soldiers, airmen, seamen, embracing the mission.

Dec. 7, 1941: The enemy was fierce, the conditions harsh, the outcome unknown.

Sept. 11, 2001: The enemy was fierce, the conditions harsh, the outcome unknown.

Dec. 7, 1941: Years passed and we wondered if there ever would be an end.

Sept. 11, 2001: Years passed and we wondered if ever there would be an end.

Dec. 7, 1941: Our sons and daughters returned, some to heal, others to be laid to rest.

Sept. 11, 2001: Our sons and daughters returned, some to heal, others to be laid to rest.

Dec. 7, 1941: Many lives were lost, many battles waged, many nations suffered.

Sept. 11, 2001: Many lives were lost, many battles waged, many nations suffered.

 

And, dear readers: this is where we come to the forks of the road.

Dec. 7, 1941: Our indomitable force, unrelenting drive, firm resolve led us to victory over not one, but two powerful enemies. Our soldiers returned to ticker-tape parades and our nation’s embrace. They were to earn the well-deserved title “The Greatest Generation.”

Sept. 11, 2001: Despite our force, our drive, our resolve, victory still eludes us. Our soldiers return mostly unnoticed, some jobless, some homeless, some injured for life. Some succumb to the stress of war and take their own lives. There are no great speeches on their behalf, as leaders quibble over dollars and cents, the right and the left, the privileged and the poor. Occupiers and tea-partiers raise voices so loud, the voices of our soldiers and loved ones are lost in that crowd. Please let us not forget our soldiers of today, who are just as noble, courageous and proud as those of “The Greatest Generation.”

 

Learn how you can help at this wonderful website: troopssupport.com. This site lists dozens of non-profit organizations helping soldiers and their loved ones, including two that are near and dear to my heart: Fisher House Foundation and Soldiers Angels. This is our time to help this generation of soldiers and families.

 

Mark LaFrancis of Natchez is a veteran and the author of two books in the series “In Their Boots: Poems Inspired by Soldiers and Their Loved Ones,” and co-founder of The Never Forget Tour Honoring Fisher House.