Founder and Managing Partner @ eichlinger advisors | Siemens CEO, German Chamber AHK President, Serbian Chamber of Commerce Board Member
Challenging Perspectives on Veterans Day and Military Service As we approach Veterans Day, I find myself reflecting on how we view military service and the concept of “glorifying” those who serve. Around the world, soldiers are often cast as heroes, symbols of courage and sacrifice. Yet, there’s another side we rarely discuss: what it means to send young people into wars that may not serve clear moral or legal purposes, where they risk—and often lose—their lives for interests that can be difficult to justify. In the U.S., the way we honor veterans can sometimes feel like a cultural ritual designed to shield us from confronting the ethical and political questions around these conflicts. Glorification can provide comfort to families, yet is it not also a way to obscure the darker reality of how these wars impact people and societies across the globe? My question is: how can we genuinely support veterans while also promoting a conversation around the policies that send them into harm’s way? What does meaningful honor and support look like when we view it through a lens of responsibility and accountability? I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this complex topic.
