What It Means to Thank a Veteran

Today is Veteran's Day. It is a day set aside to thank and honor all of those who served in the military in peacetime and war.

Those of us who have never been in the military cannot understand the choice veterans have made. They leave the comfort zone, bunk with strangers, move and sacrifice a normal home life for our Country. It is by no means easy, regardless of war or peace.

To thank a veteran does not have anything to do with how you feel about war, it has to do with recognizing the willing sacrifice of the veteran to protect his/her country. And to honestly and truly see that without their protection, our freedoms would not exist.

Besides saying thank you, you can also recognize veterans by supporting local groups like the American Legion. We are blessed to have many posts in the area and they constantly assist veterans and send supplies currently to serving military. As a support member in the American Legion, I can tell you there is plenty to do!

There are over 21 million veterans, 1.6 million from World War II, in the United States and there are many right here in the Southern Tier.

Whatever you do today, please make it a point to thank a veteran. It will make their day!