Hello FAM!
As a recent Rutgers grad and newly hired Intern for US Family Health Plan, I felt compelled to act like a sponge when learning about TRICARE and the ins and outs of the military. As I scrolled endlessly through files and folders to catch up as quickly as I could, I found myself slacking a bit to check in with Instagram and Facebook (sorry boss!). Amidst the posts of my friend’s birthday parties and opinions on gold/white or blue/black dresses, I always look for my favorite hashtag; Throwback Thursday.
I really can’t say what exactly about #TBT’s I love so much. It feels like sharing photos and stories give us a sense of nostalgia and connectedness. These posts frame a moment in time and create the opportunity to share and reflect on the past, which is exactly what I need in order to learn about the military in a visceral way.
So here we are -- the first official Throwback Thursday for Military History. As I learn about and recount specific awards, battles, and events, I hope you all will join me in reveling in the past and maybe see yourselves in a few stories.
To begin this TBT, I wanted to find an image that honored our nation’s drive for independence. July 4th 1776 is not a very relatable time period for millennials yet we are connected through our drive for autonomy and basic human rights. To showcase this spirit, I learned about the 26th Amendment to the US Constitution which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. During the heat of the Vietnam War, this amendment was ratified on July 5th, 1971 making today the 47th anniversary. One of the main drivers for this amendment was civil protest.
Much like today, American culture in the early seventies supported change and student activism helped fuel the fire. Young adults of draft age accompanied by soldiers protested on the grounds that they were old enough to fight in a war but not old enough to elect the commander-in-chief who would send them there. Marches like these and strong activism were the catalysts that helped shape and enact the 26th amendment.
In 2011, the Obama administration issued an address in honor of this amendment stating, “For young people, the movement to lower America’s voting age took years of hard work and tough advocacy to make the dream a reality… Today, young adults across America continue to exercise this enormous responsibility of citizenship. Countless young people are involved in the political process, dedicated to ensuring their voices are heard.” [White House, 7/11/2018]
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Following Independence Day, citizens can give thanks not just to the founding fathers, but to all the people involved in making America what it is today. Now more than ever, we as a society are pushing back against the status quo and are truly initiating change on a global scale. Freedom of speech and expression are blessings given to us to use for reform. While we might have a long way to go to achieve complete independence from all injustices, the fact that we can coexist with different but respected ideologies is truly what it means to live in an independent nation... Amanda
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