Veterans Day is a time when we honor those who have exhibited selfless service and sacrifice for our Nation and our way of life.
I'd like to take some time to say thank you for your service to every veteran, and their families who also sacrifice much in the name of our country. You made daily sacrifices for the sake of serving America and your fellow citizens. I am proud to have served our country, our families, and our freedom, and I know you are too. This day allows us to recognize and appreciate those who have served to protect our lifestyles and freedoms, as well as remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice; those who never came home. We remember and honor our teammates who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, and we honor their families who remain behind. All gave some, and some gave all. Please think about, and pray for, our wounded warriors who bear the scars of combat and those who bear mental scars as veterans. I ask you to pause today, Veterans Day, and remember our veterans. Thank every one that you can find. Go out of your way to do it. We never asked for any thanks when we made the commitment to our country, our citizens, and our freedoms. But your appreciation is very welcome.
To every man and woman who preserved our liberty this year, and for all who have ever proudly worn our Nation's uniform, join me in a resounding,
Thank you!The following is an excerpt from a published public letter from Kyle-Ann Shiver. I have reproduced the paragraphs that I wished to say, but that she said so much more eloquently than I could.
For the dozens of freedoms that we ordinary citizens have enjoyed every single day of our lives in America, we are grateful to you. We take it all for granted, you know, and only express our thanks one day a year. I'm ashamed of that, truly ashamed.
We hardly ever stop to even consider the sacrifices you have made and are making this very day in far away places, with scant comfort, if any at all, and yet you don't complain. You just continue to serve and give and demonstrate genuine love for us every day. Day in and day out. In danger. In fatigue. In strange places all over the world. We are more indebted to you than we will ever even comprehend.
And it is also true, that unless one has been in battle, one does not truly understand the depth of your passion for liberty. To families that have borne no soldiers, you are an enigma. To cowards, you are a shaming presence, a constant reminder of their weakness. To your parents, you represent both the mountaintop of pride, and the deepest valley of concern that mothers and fathers can ever know. And to most of us ordinary citizens, you are the unseen, under-appreciated protectors of all that we hold dear.
I have lived in America all my life, and every single night when I have laid my head upon my pillow, you were somewhere watching over my safety. For every single one of those nights of peaceful rest, I simply say, "Thank you!"
You serve and fight for the greatest Nation in the history of civilization. There has never been a grievous wrong that good Americans have not sought to rectify. There has never been a just cause on which America has turned her back for long. You, our soldiers, have been and continue to be, the greatest force for freedom and human rights ever gathered. You have raised our flag around the world, not for domination, but to bring greater liberty and a better way of life. You are the reason America remains a beacon of hope to the entire world.
You seek neither glory nor riches, nor even fame. You are our best, our brightest, our bravest. Please always know that even when we don't show it, we love you. We appreciate you. We thank you. And we will never forget you or forsake you.
