“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.”
‒ Abraham Lincoln

Veterans Day is more than a date on the calendar. Once known as Armistice Day, it is a day to pause, to remember, and show our gratitude to the men and women who have stood in the line of fire for their country. It is a day to honor courage, commitment, and sacrifice.

And yet, sacrifice is never simple. The true cost of giving everything for one’s country is not always fully understood. When that sacrifice is met with indifference or ingratitude, its meaning is diminished. A country, a freedom, an ideal must be nurtured, cherished, and defended every day or the sacrifices of those who came before risk being rendered hollow.

Today, we honor our American veterans. We honor those who left homes, families, and lives behind to defend the land they loved. We honor the courage it takes to face the unknown, to risk everything for the ideals we sometimes take for granted.

True honor cannot be contained in a single day. The greatest tribute we can give is to live in a way that respects their sacrifice. It is in caring for one another. In serving our communities. In protecting the freedoms they fought to preserve. It is in building a country worthy of the sacrifice poured into it.

God. Family. Country.

These are the values we must carry in our hearts every day. Let us honor them not just with words, not just with parades or ceremonies, but with actions that ensure their sacrifice was not in vain.