Every year, we set aside one day to remember those who gave their lives for our nation. That day, Memorial Day, is more than just a day off from school or work — it’s a day to honor and celebrate the people who served their country. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans, Veterans face numerous social, physical and mental issues after serving. However, despite the shortcomings in veteran appreciation and mental health, many remain honored to serve their country.
Despite the fact that America has not officially declared war since 1942, due to America’s prominent role on the global stage, U.S. armed forces casualties have totaled over 60,000 since 1980 alone; this number continues to rise. Memorial Day is used to honor those fallen soldiers.
Memorial Day is honored in many ways, including volunteering and visiting memorials, but one of the most important ways is the National Moment of Remembrance. At 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, Americans are asked to pause what they are doing and spend one minute remembering Veterans. Although it is important to honor soldiers no longer with us, many emphasize that Americans must honor living soldiers as well.
America’s soldiers are currently engaged in five ongoing international armed conflicts, such as the Yemeni, Somali and Syrian Civil Wars. According to USAfacts, there are 1.3 million active duty members stationed in America and abroad. Additionally, American troops are often deployed to lead coalition patrol operations and launch counterstrikes on behalf of other nations.
However, many remain inspired by the work of our armed forces, irrespective of the current political climate. Gabriel Conrad ’26 is an aspiring Air Force pilot, noting that he drew inspiration from former naval officer and Senator Mark Kelly, as well as family friend veterans.
“When I was about six, my mom was a professor at Bowling Green University, and Mark Kelly was there giving a talk. At that point, I wanted to be an astronaut like every other little boy. But I went to his seminar about being a pilot in the military, and that’s how he got to be an astronaut for NASA. I was like, ‘Okay, I want to try to be a pilot,’” Conrad said. “Around that time, we visited our friends in Florida; the dad of that family flew drones for the Air Force, and the mom was also in the Air Force as a reserve and high[-rank] officer. At that point, I’m like, ‘Okay, it’s the Air Force that I want to serve [in].’”
West High English Language Learner teacher Jessica St. John served as a military police officer in the National Guard for eight years, with responsibilities ranging from managing detainees to convoying security. As a veteran, St. John believes that Memorial Day is a valuable time to reconnect with fellow veterans and provide support surrounding deceased soldiers.
“Memorial Day is a day to remember the soldiers, [reminding you] that you lost that person. [This can be through] contacting your buddies and being like, ‘Hey, remember this [person],’ or sharing a story about that person and making sure that they’re remembered,” St. John said.
Conrad explains how and why veterans should also be honored, in addition to fallen soldiers.
“It’s important to honor the veterans, not only the ones [who] have died, but the ones [who] are still living, because being a veteran is not easy, and being a member of the military is not easy. There is definitely not enough support for veterans.” Conrad said, “And I feel like [Memorial Day is] a good day to think about what more we could be doing to help these people that have given life and limb and sanity to protect us.”
Although active duty poses a substantial mortality rate, a 2024 study by the Pentagon reveals that the majority of deaths among active-duty U.S. soldiers are self-inflicted. St. John recalls how most fallen soldiers close to her died due to suicide, and notes there are numerous variables to consider.
“Two people in my unit committed suicide — I would say the most deaths [in my unit] were from suicide. Maybe someone’s already struggling with anxiety or depression, and [the issue] doesn’t bother them at the time, but then exacerbates [during deployment],” St. John said. “A lot of people develop substance abuse issues to cope. Maybe they’re coping with the fact that their truck was bombed; maybe they’re coping with the fact that they went from having 40 friends, and then all of a sudden they get out and they’re like, ‘What do I do? I have a family to take care of, but I don’t know how to have a family.’ There’s a lot [to consider] — it’s very complicated.”
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, the rate of PTSD in veterans is around 18%, far higher than the national rate of 7%. Along with that, according to the Uniformed Services University, soldiers also suffer from higher levels of depression, and female veterans are two and a half more times likely to commit suicide than the general female population. Conrad ultimately believes that more systematic change needs to occur within the military system in order to reduce mortality rates and promote a healthier military culture.
“It’s a lot easier to solve a system from the inside than the outside. You can get 100 people, you can get picket signs, you can protest in Washington, but that’s not the same as [what] somebody on the inside of an organization [can achieve]; a high-up leader can do so much more to help people,” Conrad said. “Veterans don’t get enough support. We’re the world’s largest military; [the military] is obviously fixing problems, so fixing [the military] should also be a goal of [ours], to protect and preserve liberty and freedom.”
St. John echoes the idea that veterans aren’t getting enough support by showing what happens after you get out of the military.
“The unknown [is scariest] when you’re going overseas, and then not knowing what to do with yourself afterwards,” St. John said. “You’re in this structured environment — we’re all friends, together all the time — then boom, all of a sudden you go home and you’re like, ‘Oh crap, what do I do?’”
Veterans struggle to adapt to the world outside of the military for a variety of reasons. According to the Pew Research Center study, 30% of veterans had a self-reported traumatic experience. Conrad also notes how difficult it is for veterans to adapt after serving and why they need more government support.
“There definitely needs to be more support, because a lot of veterans suffer from things like PTSD. There’s lots of veterans [who] commit suicide every week and every day, and it’s really sad that these people gave all that they did, and that they didn’t get very much in return. There should be more support, more resources invested into taking care of these people after they’ve served,” Conrad said.
Despite the drawbacks after serving, most veterans are ultimately grateful for serving. By the same Pew Research Center study, over two-thirds of veterans frequently feel proud of their service. St. John agrees, believing that service comes with positive moments as well.
“[Serving] was a really great time of my life. You could think, ‘How could that have been, with all that you went through?’” St. John said, “But there’s a lot of good and happy moments in service. That’s why I would still recommend people to join.”
