Thank a veteran this Veterans Day!

My daughter,Graci when she was  in kindergarten
 at a Veterans Day ceremony at her school

Veterans Day is a day to celebrate all who have served in the armed forces. Veterans are the ones who have given their lives for us to be free. Sometimes we take for granted what veterans have done and are doing for us. It’s easy to do because we are not there.

I haven’t lived it, but I listen to others and hear their stories like the 7-year-old little girl whose dad just came back from Iraq and she missed him so much she hoped he could stay home and work down the street at Publix, so she could see him every day. Or the lady who sat in front of my family in church for months pregnant while her husband was serving overseas and he missed the birth of his baby. Or a friend’s daughter who graduated from high school and her dad was in another country fighting for our country and didn’t see her graduate. Or the family with three kids under the age of 6 who don’t have a mom because she was killed in action while she was serving overseas.

Those are just a few stories ... there are so many more. What’s amazing is these men and women fighting for us give up their daily lives and some pay the ultimate sacrifice with their life.

We should be thankful and honor our veterans. I am blessed to have a family full of veterans and I am thankful for their service. My dad was in the Army. His dad, my grandfather, was one of the youngest pilots in World War II and the Korean War. My father-in-law retired from the military after serving more than 20 years as a lieutenant colonel in the Army. My brother-in-law was also in the Army and served two tours in Iraq. My husband’s grandfather also served. I have great respect for our military and their families.

As a mom and a wife, I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a husband or a son or daughter in combat. I know talking to my mother-in-law it was hard not knowing whether or not you are going to get that dreadful knock on the door informing you your loved one was killed in action.

I am glad for Veterans Day celebrations to remind us of these sacrifices our veterans have made. It’s important to bring our children to these ceremonies and talk about what it means to be a veteran.

As we celebrate Veterans Day I think it’s so important to thank our veterans for what they have done for our country. We are free because of the sacrifices they have made to keep us safe. So, here’s to all our veterans ... thank you!!!