Over my years of active duty Veteran's Day has always passed without much fanfare. It was a holiday, day off from work. A day that my kids were in school and I got a break from everyone and everything. Kind of a sad way to look at such an important day.
This year though things are very different. This year I realized that this day is the day to celebrate all the men and women, past and present, who have sacrificed so much for our great nation. They have sacrificed their lives, their families, their time, their heart and their soul. They have given this nation every part of them and all too often this nation has not given them the respect and honor they deserve.
Today I've read through so many stories and seen so many wonderful thanks to our veterans. I've seen ads for restaurants and stores who provide veteran's with free meals and discounts. I've seen so many people thanking a veteran. Why spend just one day thanking these men and women...why not thank them every day?
I've met men and women who have gone to war and not returned, retirees who suffered the greatest injustices from a nation they love, service members who have suffered medical issues, service members who have lost their families. Is one day, a few hours, really long enough to thank them?
This year I realize that it isn't. Everyday we should thank a veteran. Thank the men and women who place their lives on the line for our freedoms. Remember that they do not like war, they abhor war, they go to war to keep our nation free. Remember that they are leaving their loved ones behind and do not know if they will return. If they return they will never be the same.
Look around you today as you are enjoying your day off, look around you at all the men and women who have served, look around you and think about what these men and women have truly given for this nation, for you, for your children.
They have given their love, their loyalty, their lives. Veteran's Day is an important day...maybe one of the most important, but while you are thanking them today, remember to thank them everyday!
This year though things are very different. This year I realized that this day is the day to celebrate all the men and women, past and present, who have sacrificed so much for our great nation. They have sacrificed their lives, their families, their time, their heart and their soul. They have given this nation every part of them and all too often this nation has not given them the respect and honor they deserve.
Today I've read through so many stories and seen so many wonderful thanks to our veterans. I've seen ads for restaurants and stores who provide veteran's with free meals and discounts. I've seen so many people thanking a veteran. Why spend just one day thanking these men and women...why not thank them every day?
I've met men and women who have gone to war and not returned, retirees who suffered the greatest injustices from a nation they love, service members who have suffered medical issues, service members who have lost their families. Is one day, a few hours, really long enough to thank them?
This year I realize that it isn't. Everyday we should thank a veteran. Thank the men and women who place their lives on the line for our freedoms. Remember that they do not like war, they abhor war, they go to war to keep our nation free. Remember that they are leaving their loved ones behind and do not know if they will return. If they return they will never be the same.
Look around you today as you are enjoying your day off, look around you at all the men and women who have served, look around you and think about what these men and women have truly given for this nation, for you, for your children.
They have given their love, their loyalty, their lives. Veteran's Day is an important day...maybe one of the most important, but while you are thanking them today, remember to thank them everyday!
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