Happy Veterans Day

In a day and society when most people spend Veterans Day at the mall, shopping of the best deals due to the holiday sales, I just wanted to take a moment and recognize the original reason for the holiday. Created in 1919 under the name of Armistice Day, the holiday marked the end of World War I. It was meant to honor those who have and are serving in any branch of the military, many of whom have given up their lives, Veterans Day has turned into a holiday that too often gets glossed over as the department stores run their "Veterans Day" sale ads.

I'm just a guilty of forgetting the reason for the holiday, and oftentimes, other than enjoying a day off from work, never thought to really question why we celebrated. I have been blessed to grow up in a realitively peaceful time, my father could not serve due to health reasons, and my husband, although registered, has never been called to serve. Having no brothers, I only know of a few people - distantly at that - that do serve. Both of my grandfathers and both of my fathers-in-law did serve, and all of them were proud to do so. I realize now that I dishonor them by ignoring the holiday.

I read in an article today that it takes "65 hours to recite aloud the more than 58,000 names inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington," something I never knew. That really puts it in perspective... I have visited the wall in DC, and I've seen the names. I remember thinking that the impact of all those names was something I'd never forget, but apparently I have. And that memorial is just for the names of soldiers who gave their lives in the Vietnam War.

Today I want to take a moment to thank all the veterans who served so willingly and gave and sacrificed so much. Some never made it home, some did but will never be whole again. Sadly, for some of our veterans, they came home to a country that did not want them. They make up 25% of our country's homeless. They are often nameless and faceless, and most would actually want it that way. They are unappreciated and uncelebrated. They fight for the freedoms we abuse and take for granted. To all of them, I say thank you. As little or as much as that may mean, I say it from the bottom of my heart.

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Happy Veterans Day

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