Thank you!

November 11th never used to mean much to me. Growing up I honestly didn't know it was a special day. I mean we didn't even get a day off of school and you ALWAYS get a day off of school for the special holidays, right? Wrong! It wasn't until I was in college that I realized the significance of this seemingly insignificant day. My mom called me on November 11, 2002 and asked me to call my grandfather. His birthday was at the end of October, so I asked what the call was about. She told me that it was Veteran's Day and that I should call him and say thanks. It was at that moment that I realized the important day that I had overlooked for all those years. So every year on Veteran's Day I stop for a moment and reflect on all of the brave men I have in my life that fought so hard to preserve the only way of life I have ever known. This Veteran's Day carries with it even more significance as Nathan's brother Steve landed safely in the United States yesterday after 14 months in Iraq. To him I say with complete sincerity, thank you for all that you do and for the sacrifices you have made for this country. I would also like to take this time to thank my Grandpa Joe, a veteran of the Korean War, my Grandpa Fred, a veteran of World War II, and my late great-Uncle Pat, also a veteran of World War II. Although I have not had much of an opportunity to discuss the wars in depth with my grandfathers, I had a unique opportunity to discuss wartime experiences with my Uncle Pat before he passed away. My freshman year of college I was asked to write a profile on someone that I considered to be a hero. After my mom explained all that my Uncle Pat had done and seen in his three years in the service I knew, without a doubt, that he truly fit the bill. My Uncle Pat and Aunt Emily represented true love in every sense of the word. My Aunt Emily passed away last year and my Uncle Pat was never the same. He soon followed, passing away in late December so that he could spend Christmas with his beloved Emily. So on this day, Veteran's Day, I honor his memory by sharing the story of Uncle Pat and his heroics. The profile I wrote about him was published in a college textbook. If you care to read his story you can find it here:

http://college.cengage.com/english/blau/writing_works/1e/resources/wor/wor11.html

Again, thank you to all of those who fought, and continue to fight, to preserve our way of life and our freedom. Everyone, no matter how busy you are, should take a moment today to offer them thanks.