“Honor to the Soldier, and Sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as he best can, the same cause” (Lincoln). In 1863, during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, expressed his gratitude to the whole nation, honoring soldiers who stood up to protect the rights and the country and those civilians who supported those veterans. As Lincoln wrote a letter to veterans, people and the government at that time started to recognize veterans’ effort and work because they knew that veterans sacrificed their lives to protect their country. As a result, the US government not only celebrates Veteran’s Day, but also makes memorials
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In 1932, over fifteen thousand homeless World War I veterans gathered in Washington D.C; this event was called “the Bonus Expeditionary Force, or Bonus Army” (Norton 685). Veterans and their family insisted to the US government that they should be immediately paid for serving the country. However, President Hoover and the Senate rejected the bill, ordering U.S. Army to attack the veterans. This public confrontation shows that veterans were not even able to obtain money even though they served their country by sacrificing themselves. The government praised veterans as the heroes right after the World War I, yet fifteen thousand veterans were homeless and unemployed: “we were heroes in 1917, but we’re bums today” (Norton 685). Another example could be demonstrated through Korean military. Korean military creates many disadvantages to current soldiers and veterans. According to Korean National Law Information Center, a private, who has the lowest level in military hierarchy, can earn 148,800 won (about 120 dollars) for a month, and a sergeant, the highest level civilians can be, can earn 197,100 won (about 160 dollars) for a month. However, Korean minimum wage is 6030 won (about 5 dollars) for an hour and 1,200,000 won (about 970 dollars) for a month. Payment that korean privates and sergeants can gain is about 6 to 8 times less than Korean minimum wage. When they finish their military duty, veterans are able to earn about 4,000,000 won (about 3,300 dollars) from working arduously everyday for two years, while civilians who are paid for minimum wage can acquire about 30,000,000 won (about 24,400 dollars) for two years. As a result, there are economic unfairness between veterans and
In 1932, over fifteen thousand homeless World War I veterans gathered in Washington D.C; this event was called “the Bonus Expeditionary Force, or Bonus Army” (Norton 685). Veterans and their family insisted to the US government that they should be immediately paid for serving the country. However, President Hoover and the Senate rejected the bill, ordering U.S. Army to attack the veterans. This public confrontation shows that veterans were not even able to obtain money even though they served their country by sacrificing themselves. The government praised veterans as the heroes right after the World War I, yet fifteen thousand veterans were homeless and unemployed: “we were heroes in 1917, but we’re bums today” (Norton 685). Another example could be demonstrated through Korean military. Korean military creates many disadvantages to current soldiers and veterans. According to Korean National Law Information Center, a private, who has the lowest level in military hierarchy, can earn 148,800 won (about 120 dollars) for a month, and a sergeant, the highest level civilians can be, can earn 197,100 won (about 160 dollars) for a month. However, Korean minimum wage is 6030 won (about 5 dollars) for an hour and 1,200,000 won (about 970 dollars) for a month. Payment that korean privates and sergeants can gain is about 6 to 8 times less than Korean minimum wage. When they finish their military duty, veterans are able to earn about 4,000,000 won (about 3,300 dollars) from working arduously everyday for two years, while civilians who are paid for minimum wage can acquire about 30,000,000 won (about 24,400 dollars) for two years. As a result, there are economic unfairness between veterans and