In this country, we have two major holidays celebrating the men and women of our armed services, the people who keep this place “the land of the free” and who put the “brave” in “home of the brave.”
Memorial Day commemorates largely those veterans we’ve lost, who fought and gave their lives in the service of our country.
Today, Veterans’ Day, celebrates primarily those veterans still with us, members of the military’s branches who served this country with distinction in two world wars, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, the Persian Gulf and who continue to serve anywhere and everywhere else someone decides we are needed.
We are America — the world’s police force, or so we have been for more than 100 years.
Our volunteer-based armed services comprise the world’s second largest army, with bases and stations across the globe, helpng to keep the homefront safe.
However, less than one half of a percent of all Americans can claim military service - 1.7 million out of a population of more than 300 million.
Thank goodness for that 0.5 percent.
In an era where more at home and around the world seem to be asking for more but contributing less, it seems almost amazing there would still be people willing to put themselves in harm’s way for the rest of us.
Sometimes we worry some future gneration may think this nation and her ideals are not worth fighting for — may we never see such a day.
However, when we continually see stories of how veterans receive ineffective treatment upon their return from service, we take pause.
These young men and women are often put into the heat of battle, taking fire and facing injury and death so we can live our lives in the all clear.
The least we can do, as a society, is to ensure proper treatment and care for any and all wounded, for whatever they need.
Even with a Congress attempting to cut an ever-increasing national budget, funds that supply needed aid and assistance to veterans and their families must be kept strong and fully funded.
They fought for us, without question or pause.
We owe them basic care and kindness for that service - medical care included.
VA hospitals should be models of medical care for the rest of the nation, a beacon in trauma and urgent care.
To our veterans, we say “Thank you” once again, although we know there is no way to fully express the gratitude and debt we feel for your service.
No gleaming memorial, no triumphant celebration can replace the lives of young comrades cut short before your eyes.
No flowery prose can make up for the sleepless nights spent by loved ones back home, always wondering whether the knock at the door might be bad news from the front.
Find and thank a veteran today.
Thank them for what they’ve done, for how they’ve protected each and every one of us, regardless of how they’ve served.
But, do this every day, as many times as you can - whenever you see a veteran, you thank them.
It’s not a way to fully pay back what we all owe them, but it’s darn sure a start.
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