The Meaning of Veterans Day

Veterans Day means a lot to David Pemberton, a Northern Lights board member since 2012, and a Vietnam war veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1971.

“I enlisted in the Army at age 17,” says David, who spent the first 4 months of his military career in avionics school. “At avionics school, I learned to work on aerial electronics, such as helicopter radios. Then I taught at the school for 12 more months.”

After completing avionics school, David deployed to Vietnam.

“I was in Vietnam for about 11 months of my scheduled year-long tour, and then I came home,” he says. “Had I known then what I know now, I probably would have re-enlisted, but back then we didn’t re-enlist when being in a war zone like that.

“When you lose friends in a war, it’s pretty hard. It means a lot to me to be a veteran. It means a lot to me that some people in this nation appreciate it. It means something when somebody thanks you for what you did.”

Upon leaving the military, David went to work in the technology field before later switching to the communications industry, working with electronics.

David says it is a great experience for young people to serve in the military.

“My service taught me everything from the importance of being on time and following directions to developing specific skills. It gives you a lot of life skills you don’t get otherwise,” he says. “Skills that I am proud to contribute to serving on the NLI Board of Directors.”