OPINION:
Veterans Day is more than a commemoration of military service. It is also a reminder that freedom depends on citizens willing to serve something larger than themselves — and not just when they are in uniform.
Our service members do much more than most of us realize, and our society is the better for it.
Across generations, American veterans have answered the nation’s call in war and peace out of a commitment to duty, sacrifice and country. Their example shows that citizenship carries responsibilities as well as rights, and that self-government endures only when citizens place the common good above personal interest.
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The freedoms that Americans enjoy today were secured by all veterans who served. They defended not merely our borders but also the principles upon which this nation was founded: liberty, representative government and the rule of law.
By defending the constitutional order, veterans helped preserve a nation in which political differences are settled through lawful debate and elections rather than force. Veterans Day is an opportunity to recognize the men and women whose sacrifices have made that peaceful self-government possible.
Veterans have helped secure liberty against some of the most oppressive ideologies in human history, including communism and national socialism. American veterans were instrumental in defeating the Nazi regime during World War II, helping liberate Europe from a government built on tyranny, aggression and the systematic denial of human freedom.
During the Cold War, generations of American servicemen and women stood watch against the expansion of Soviet communism, preserving the security of the free world through deterrence and steadfast resolve. Their service helped create the conditions that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the liberation of millions of people in Central and Eastern Europe.
The freedom enjoyed today by nations once trapped behind the Iron Curtain is part of the legacy of those veterans who answered their country’s call.
Across these conflicts, American veterans served as guardians of the principle that free people have the right to govern themselves. Veterans Day also reminds us that liberty is never self-executing. The constitutional freedoms secured through military sacrifice endure only when citizens practice the discipline, responsibility and respect for law that self-government requires.
The veteran’s example therefore reaches beyond the battlefield, offering a model for preserving freedom in civic life.
Veterans also participate in freedom’s defense at home at some of the highest rates in American society. According to the 2025 Veterans Civic Health Index, 81% of veterans were registered to vote in the 2024 election, compared with 74% of nonveterans. Seventy-three percent of veterans cast ballots, compared with 66% of nonveterans.
The index also reports stronger veteran participation in volunteering, in civic organizations and in engagement with public officials and community institutions. Together, these measures point to a broader pattern: For many veterans, military service becomes a lifelong commitment to citizenship, civic responsibility and the preservation of our constitutional republic.
Veterans continue to serve as teachers, business leaders, first responders, elected officials and civic volunteers, bringing military habits of integrity, discipline and teamwork into civilian life. At Military.com, Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha captures that enduring impulse, saying, “So many of us veterans just want to continue to serve after service.”
Mr. Romesha identifies teamwork as one of the military’s greatest lessons — “It’s not about me; it’s about the team” — and as a principle that continues to guide veterans long after they leave the uniform behind.
The veteran profiles of “American Heroes: Stories of Service” and “Pledge to Patriots” show this continuing commitment in action. These stories feature veterans mentoring young people, supporting one another, leading nonprofits, responding to disasters and strengthening communities.
Thousands of veterans serve as poll workers, election officials and observers, helping to administer and safeguard elections. As a former election official and U.S. Navy veteran, I have seen them step forward when communities need poll workers. Through the nonpartisan Vet the Vote initiative, more than 163,000 veterans and military family members served as poll workers during the 2024 election cycle, up from approximately 63,500 during the 2022 midterms.
National Guard members have supported election operations, security, coordination and emergency response at the request of state authorities. Their commitment to duty, adherence to procedures and record of public service can strengthen confidence in the electoral process they defended in uniform.
On Veterans Day, we honor those who wore the uniform in defense of our nation. We should also follow the example they continue to set — as citizens, poll workers, community leaders and public servants — reminding us that freedoms secured on far-off battlefields must be preserved through faithful participation in self-government at home.
Veterans Day recognizes a profound commitment to country, but it also challenges every American to accept the duties of citizenship.
• Donald Palmer is a senior legal fellow for election integrity with The Heritage Foundation.
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