re: Is it insensitive to veterans to have a fireworks show not on a major holiday?

What exactly is a veteran?

The Scholars at Oxford define a veteran, in the military sense, simply as a "person that has served in the military."

But I initially reject that. While the contributions of all who have heard the bugle call cannot go unnoticed, merely volunteering for military duty cannot avail you to the title of veteran, in my opinion.

In the same vein, mere service in any of the active components of our military versus duty in the National Guard or reserve forces cannot, in itself, allow someone to claim the title of veteran. For only a fool forgets the contribution the reserve component has made in the most recent conflicts.

So, if we can agree that a person must be assigned to duty in a billet outside of the traditional garrison environment, where exactly does one cross the threshold into veteran status?

The United States Army is the backbone of America's military, and the cornerstone of any modern joint operation. In fact, it can be said that the Army is 'the military' in itself, so I think their classification weighs heavily on this debate.

In the Army, veterans are commonly known as Soldiers entitled to wear the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia on their right shoulder and the Combat Service Identification Badge on their service uniform, indicating duty in a combat zone.

Does it take more? Need a Soldier fill a certain billet within this combat zone to be properly vetted as a veteran? What about the necessity to be engaged by the enemy?

What does the OT think?