Veterans Day time to honor military

Nov. 11, day of pride for America.

Nov. 11 has evolved from “Armistice Day” back in 1918 to “Veterans Day” in 1954. This is a day for America’s veterans to hold their heads high with the pride of knowing they have won every war, “police action,” and “brush fires” hostility they have ever participated in. Yes, they won!

All of us fortunate enough to live in this country still have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and the right to pursue happiness in our individual way. Our businessmen enjoy the freedom to set their company goals and profits; every individual of voting age has the freedom of choice in selecting our form of government.

Yes, our veterans won. This is a day we should all remember them for what they won for us. If they hadn’t won, if they had lost, none of us would now be able to enjoy any of the aforementioned freedoms.

We would have the state setting our wages, telling us when and where we may travel, dictating who we could elect and finally, telling dissenters which prison camps they could perish in.

Even those who scurried across the bridges to Canada during the 1960s and ’70s, especially them, owe America’s veterans a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Today is your day, veterans. This is the day for all of you to hold your heads high in pride. This is the day all Americans should pause and think deeply about each little thing they are free to do on this day and thank you.

Most of all, this is the day when the “lucky” veterans will compassionately remember their buddies who never made it back to their homes and families and the ones who linger forgotten in hospital wards.

This is your day, continue standing tall!

This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Veterans Day time to honor military."