Our Veterans

November 11th marks the date on the calendar that we honor our veterans. We gather in our towns, watch the parades with ROTC members, Veteran local organizations, civic groups and the occasional Uncle Sam on stilts. Whether or not we agree with the War on Terror, on that day, we join together, wave our American flags and enjoy the local marching bands and all those that participate to honor our veterans.

Our veterans are those that have fought before us to preserve our freedoms that we enjoy today. Their selflessness makes it possible for us to be able to enjoy our work, religion and life in general without fear.

The military has been a great way for our youth to serve our country. They voluntarily sign up, and go off to training. They leave their families and communities to go down an honorable road where they become the educated and well-disciplined individuals that we are so proud of.

Everyday that our men and women in the armed forces serve, they leave their families behind and go into harms way. They never know when get up in the morning what will await them when they walk in the front door of their duty station office or when they walk onto the battlefield.

And today, there are thousands of our men and women who serve on our soil but also overseas to fight against those who want nothing more but to harm us here at home.

Many of our soldiers that go off to battle return as combat veterans. They sometimes return as wounded, or worse, in a box draped by a flag. They leave and do not know the fate that awaits them.

They don’t do it for the glory, fame or money. In fact, many of our service men and women don’t make much at all in way of monetary compensation.

They do it because they care. They care about their families, their communities and their country. They want to make sure that the safety we have today, we will still have tomorrow.

So today, as we wake in freedom, we raise our flag, and say a prayer for our military. And when we see a veteran, we can’t thank them enough for what they have sacrificed so that we can have everything we dream of.

Thank you

As Memorial Day approaches, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank those who we need to remember this time of year.

First and foremost I thank those heroes currently in harm's way. I thank the soldiers and their support in Iraq and Afghanistan. I also thank every US serviceman. As we have seen for many years, the enemy seeks to make barracks, nightclubs, apartment buildings, and other facilities their front lines. We show appreciation for these gallant men and women at Arlington and other military cemetaries, but we also need to continue to thank these people by supporting their work to extend freedom for others and security for us.

We also ought to show appreciation for those that work in the shadows whose tales rarely get told. Agents of the CIA, FBI, and other agencies have worked long hours and put their lives on the line. We don't know their stories and we should not hear them until it is safe to tell them. Only now do we get to hear the courageous exploits of those that advanced the cause of freedom in wars long past. For now we'll remember at least some of them every time another anonymous star appears at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

Memorial Day of course remembers all those men and women living and dead who have sacrificed for their country. Take some time to talk to the few remaining World War II veterans. I wish I still had my grandfathers so I could ask them more about their service in the Pacific and Italy. Remember the Korean veterans because their war somehow has been lost in the historical memory. Thank a Vietnam veteran because our country owes them not only for their service, but also how they were treated for many years after they came home. Remember those that fought in Iraq in 1991 and other smaller conflicts whose names have slipped into history, but inspired feats of courage and duty all the same. Places such as Panama, Grenada, the Dominican Republic, Lebanon, and other areas are not just points on a map but areas made sacred by American blood spilt there in the cause of freedom.

Memorial Day is not just another day off. Especially in a time of war when enemies still conspire against our nation and our soldiers remained engaged, we must take the time to honor all those that have defended our freedom now and in years past.