The First American Veterans
Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04)
Long before the structured regimen of our national military, the successful birth of our nation depended on ordinary citizens who left behind their jobs as farmers and tradesmen to take up arms and fight for liberty. This week, as we honor Veterans Day, we remember not only the cost of freedom, but also our nation’s first veterans, who gave us the opportunity to celebrate 250 proud years of America.
Camped in the Hudson Valley, the troops began to lose morale as they endured illness, freezing temperatures, a shortage of food supply, and a lack of winter clothing. On top of that, the Confederation Congress had failed to fund the military, leaving them without pay.
By March 1783, our chance for victory was threatened not only by British troops, but also by a mutiny led by our own officers due to widespread unrest among the soldiers.
Stepping in at just the right moment, General George Washington met with the concerned officers to address their grievances and encourage them to continue leading the fight for freedom. He reminded them that he understood their hardships firsthand and promised to do all he could to persuade the Confederation Congress to fund the military in a timely manner.
In this moment, Washington’s character was on full display. Instead of pushing back completely against these officers, he admitted that some of their concerns were understandable, but he also urged them to give the elected officials their confidence and time to solve the financial problem instead of opening the “floodgates of civil discontent.”
In a sobering and candid moment that perfectly captured just how much General Washington had given himself to the war, he apologized to the officers after pausing to put on his new pair of spectacles. He said, “Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in your service and now find myself growing blind.” This moment caused many of the officers to weep as they were reminded so vividly how much the General had endured alongside them.
Washington was ultimately successful in bringing an end to what is now called the Newburgh Conspiracy and moved onward to lead the army to victory. This moment in history reminds us just how much our nation’s first veterans endured to ensure we could be a free nation. Their service defined American grit, fierce resolve, and the unwavering belief that liberty is worth fighting for.
Ronald Reagan famously reminded us that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. He said, “We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
As we close out this week, I invite you to join me in thanking the servicemen and women who continue to protect that freedom today. May we remember to always do our part to pass it on.
If you or someone you know is having trouble with the VA, the Social Security Administration or any other federal agency, please visit my website at Westerman.house.gov or contact my Hot Springs office at (501) 609-9796. My office is here to help, and we stand ready to be of service to you.