Launching the New Year
Events of 2001 promise a reawakened American spirit for 2002.

Here we are again, the start of a new year. Time to pause and ask ourselves, "Was 2001 a good year? What can we expect from 2002?"

At The Retired Officer Magazine, as you do at home, we like to look at what we've accomplished and then set goals for the future. We do it every year. But this year won't be easy to characterize. I don't think we can file it in a standard folder: good years, bad years, indifferent ones. If I had to choose a label, I'd say "beyond our wildest imagination."

2001 was a year of triumph and tragedy, great joy and deep pain. One hundred years from now, historians will have put the year in perspective. But viewing from the maelstrom of daily events, we're hard-pressed to say what will prove significant or trivial in the long run.

The year began on a high note. Having won major battles for health care equity, TROA and its partners in The Military Coalition looked to 2001 as the year these programs finally would see implementation. The cover of the January 2001 issue read: "TRICARE For Life: This year brings added health care coverage for Medicare-eligibles ... Expect to see pharmacy coverage starting April 1, TRICARE as second payer to Medicare starting Oct. 1, ... no Medicare copayments and deductibles."

Sure enough, TRICARE For Life (tfl) was the success story of 2001. Yes, there have been a few temporary hiccups for some people, as expected with any new benefit, but the program is fulfilling its promise. In the December 2001 issue, we presented a first report on member feedback regarding tfl. In the coming year, TROA will continue to work to improve the program. We list other legislative goals for 2002 on page 17.

The tragedy of 2001 was, of course, the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Thousands of people lost lives; millions more lost their innocence. Many of us may never again feel totally secure in our own homes. Today the nation is at war against terrorism. And socked by these events, an already-stumbling economy tumbled into recession. We update you this month with two related stories: the U.S. Coast Guard's changing missions (page 52) and the status of Pentagon rebuilding (page 62).

At first thought, terrorism and its offshoots would seem to tip the 2001 scales toward the negative. But ... wait a minute ... step back and take a longer look. This past year also brought a rekindling of the American spirit, a resurgence of patriotism, a national pride not seen for decades.

Maybe in the long run that will be the real story of 2001: an affirmation of America's strength and unity. So check out the flag protocol story (page 31)—and fly Old Glory to proclaim a reawakened American spirit for 2002!