I had always thought of former Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern as the anti-war candidate of 1972. With the war in Vietnam in its final death throes, Senator McGovern was the hero of college students and all those who, for noble or not-so-noble reasons, were against the war—in many cases against all war.

As things worked out, the nation elected Richard Nixon instead of George McGovern in 1972—which is, of course, another story.

 Well, last month I read a book about Senator McGovern’s World War II experience. Peace candidate George McGovern fought in a war? Absolutely! He piloted B24 bombers in 35 missions over Germany and Austria, flying through heavy flak in most of his missions, sometimes limping home on only three engines—or two, or one. By all the accounts of his fellow airmen, he served heroically in the final air assault that brought Nazi Germany to its knees.

 It just goes to show that we don’t always know as much as we think we know about other people and their ideals.

 On this Veterans Day 2008, with the US involved in at least two more vexing wars, and the nation’s citizens once again divided over the fighting, we can all agree to pray a prayer of thanks for those who honorably serve in uniform, and for those who grieve for loved ones lost.