Veterans Day

Well folks, today is veterans day. I would invite you to do something today, but wish you would do it every day....When you see someone that you identify as a veteran, (many wear ballcaps that show what ship they were assigned to, or which war they are a vet of); just take a moment out of your day to go up to them and introduce yourself and thank them for their selfless service to our country. We; as civillians will never know the hardships that they and their families were put through to have them give years of their life to serve us and this wonderful country we live in. Do it, and take it one step further...if you have a young child, explain to them what you are about to do and include them in this. This will do two things- it will add to the gift of love you show them and will also put in place something I hope will stick with your child for years to come. We see movies and all with the harshness of war, and the toughness of millitary life depicted, but till you live it (me included) we will never know all of the sacrifices made by the men and woman in uniform that they make to give those years of their life to a cause that keeps us free and able to do the things we do in this country without the fear of prosecution.
Think of it- what would it be like to live in a place where we couldnt be free to do the things we enjoy; to speak our mind freely without fear of retribution....to be able to come and go as we please, to do anything that is legal at anytime we choose. Its really a great gift we have, and it is all being made for us by the people that give their lives and sometimes; all too often their life so that we can do such. Its such a great gift. Would you be able to lay down your life for our cause; to be free, and make the considerable sacrifices these people make day in, day out, and do it with virtually no thanks ever shown by the public? And all for wages that sometimes; (all too often) qualify these heroes for welfare and food stamps? That is a shame when we have sports figures that make up into the MILLIONS a year for playing a game; and they sometimes cannot even keep their noses out of trouble for that rediculous amount of money.
What these people do for us is so unbelievably over the top in ways we take for granted every day. And we are able to take these freedoms for granted because these wonderful human beings keep us so safe and secure that we rarely have to think or worry about them being removed from our existance. What a gift we are given by God, to be born in this country, where we are so free to do anything we desire. We take our freedom for granted so much, and these people make it possible for us to do so.
So.......if I can impress one thing to you in this short, misspelled, mispuncuated (is that even a word?) rant I have made this morning, is to do something for our millitary folks, both currently on duty and retired that will make a wonderful impression on them, and take just a moment of your time...Walk up to them and look them in the eyes and tell them that you just want to thank them for the service they have given and the sacrifices they have made. I have done it many times and I have seen the appreciation they have for that one small act of kindness you give. Two words coming straight from your heart, "Thank You"; seem so little untill you look them in the eyes and show them that you mean it. Its the very least we can do for someone that knows the meaning of giving, and they have done that giving for each and every one of us.
That being said, I wish to say one more time to any veteran that may be reading this; Thank You!!! From the bottom of my heart, I want to let you know that this person values his freedom highly, and I know that I would not have it if it were not for you giving such a gift to us all, in the greatest country in the world. YOU make it happen. And THATS a good thing!