A Tribute to Our Veterans
On November 11, 2023, our nation celebrated Veterans Day for the 69th time since it was declared a national holiday by President Dwight Eisenhower. However, the history of this special day reaches back to the close of World War I. It was at 11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1919 that the war ended.
As Americans who love our freedom and cherish our liberty, we have the utmost respect for those who have taken up arms and risked their very lives in our defense. They all deserve our gratitude and honor for their service. Thank you to all our veterans. You have answered the call to duty over the years and we appreciate every one of you – no matter what campaign you served in nor what role you performed.
As I anticipated this upcoming day, my mind seemed to generate some thoughts about just who a veteran is. What is it about these men and women who have gained the honor we so gladly bestow upon them? This will not be very polished nor astounding to anyone, but just some thoughts from the heart.
An anacronym seemed to fit what I would like to express.
VETERAN
V – Victory is the ultimate goal of the veteran’s service. He never slacks in striving for it and never boasts when he has achieved it.
E – Excellence is the standard by which his service is measured. Anything less will put the goal in jeopardy.
T – Thankfulness to God for this land of liberty and freedom is his inner motivation. He is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve his country and defend her people.
E – Effort is the continuing exercise of his physical, mental, and spiritual abilities toward the accomplishment of his mission.
R – Respect is the quality he holds for his superiors, his fellow-soldiers and the U.S. Military Code of Conduct.
A – Allegiance is the pledge he makes to the flag and to the Republic for which it stands, even at the cost of his life.
N – Never is the time he will abandon his mission nor forfeit his commitment to victory, excellence, thankfulness, effort, respect, and allegiance — no, never.
To be sure, there have been individuals who have not fully held to these traits, but the overwhelming numbers certainly have, and we owe them our eternal gratitude.
May God bless them all! Have a great Veterans’ Day.
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