Holidays

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Veteran's Day is an annual federal and state holiday that was created for the purpose of honoring our nation's military veterans of the past and the present. It is the one day of the year that we are to remember those who have served, those who have fought , and those who have died so we can enjoy a free life. My question is, shouldn't we be thanking our veterans and their families every day of the year for the sacrifices they have made so that we may speak freely, govern freely, have a chance to follow our dreams and live where and how we want?

A holiday is usually a festive, happy time. However, I see Veteran's Day as a sobering, somber time that both saddens me and fills my heart with pride. It saddens me to know that hundreds of thousands of the tens of millions who have served in the Armed Forces, have lost their lives in serving our country. It fills my heart with pride to know that people love this nation enough to give their lives so that my family and theirs can be free. They have all fought for the cause of world peace and should be celebrated every day of the year. Every time I see a person in the military in my community, I walk up to them, shake their hand and thank them for serving our nation. They deserve both our support and respect.

Veteran's Day is not just a thirty second news clip of the President laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. It is one out of the many days of the year that we should honor America's veterans.

We should ensure that the younger generations understand what the true meaning of this day is all about. They should know why their grandparents, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles
made sacrifices to ensure that our nation and our freedoms would always be defended and secure.

Our military veterans and active duty personnel do not want nor do they need, our sympathy. They need our support. It takes a special person to be willing to sacrifice their family life, their time, and in some cases, their lives, to serve their country and defend their fellow countrymen and women.

We should all give thanks to and pray for those who have and do serve in the Armed Forces. Thank them for their sacrifices and their steadfast resolve to bring about peace to a volatile world. Pray for their safe return to those who await them with open arms.

Veteran's Day is more than a legal holiday. It is a day to honor all who serve in peacetime and in war. Honor them for their patriotism, the love of their country, and their willingness to sacrifice for the common good.

Every time you see our nation's flag, say the pledge of allegiance, hear the Star Spangled Banner, or even see the President standing behind a podium with the presidential seal on it, giving a speech, know that it was because of our veterans, that we have a flag, say a pledge, sing a song, and vote for someone who will lead the most free country in the world.

All one has to do is walk through Arlington National Cemetery first thing in the morning, as the misty fog rises over the landscape and reveals the thousands upon thousands of headstones, lined in rows on that hallowed ground, to know that our country is forever indebted to our veterans for their courage and unselfish service to a country that we all love.

Veteran's Day. Shouldn't it really be called Thanksgiving?

God bless our troops, God bless our veterans, and may God bless America.

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