Each one of us, as Americans, owes a debt that we can never repay. A debt that grows larger every day.
I’m not talking about the national debt, or out of control budgets, or anything else of a political or financial nature. I’m talking about the debt that we all owe to every man and woman who ever put on a uniform and served our country.
It doesn’t matter if they were Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marine. It doesn’t matter if they were drafted, enlisted, or were part of a National Guard or Reserve unit. It doesn’t matter if they waded ashore at Omaha Beach, walked a jungle trail in Viet Nam, served on a flight line in Thailand, or peeled potatoes on KP duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Because if it wasn’t for these brave men and women, who left their homes and families behind to answer duty’s call, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we do today to worship as we choose, to squabble over politics, to sleep safely in our own homes at night, and to live our lives with a freedom unknown by most of people in the world.
Our veterans are tall and short, fat and thin, young and old, male and female, gay and straight, Christian, Jew, and agnostic. Many are proud of their service and wear caps or put bumper stickers on their cars that tell you so. Others never say a word about that time in their lives.
Some did their time and came home and picked up their lives where they left off, some found a home in the military and made it a career, others saw changes that needed made in our society and our government, and worked to make them happen.
Our veterans live in comfortable ranch houses, sprawling mansions, rundown cabins, mobile homes, in cardboard boxes under bridges, and in prison cells.
Millions of our nation’s war veterans came home with physical or psychological problems. Some hide their scars, and some have scars that cannot be hidden. Some become recluses and withdraw from society, some still wake up in the dark with cold sweats and nightmares, and some use anger or humor to drive away their personal demons when they come to call.
But no matter when or where their service was, or how they have lived since then, there are two things that all of these men and women have in common – they stepped up to the plate when they were needed, and we all owe them a debt that we can never repay.
Yeah, I know you’ve heard it a million times before, but it has never been truer than it is today; if you love your freedom, thank a vet.
To all of my brothers and sisters who served America, from the bottom of my heart I say Thank You and Welcome Home.
Tags: Air Force, America's veterans, Army, Coast Guard, Marine, Merchant Marine, military srvice, national debt, Navy, Omaha Beach, thank a vet, Viet Nam, war veterans
Thanks Nick for your service & Welcome home..Great blog!!!
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THANK YOU NICK,
Thank you Nick and Welcome Home. It is good that the country is welcoming back the present veterans better than we were welcomed back from Viet Nam. I salute all the military men and women serving our country as well as the veterans that went before. The USA needs to keep a strong military or our country will be weak.
Welcome home, brother.
Welcome home brother from one who served to another who served
Welcome home brother from one who served to another who served
Very well said Nick, and thank you for your service.
You couldn’t have said it better
From one service woman to a serviceman, thank you Nick!
Thanks Nick, we all need it, great Blog
thanks to all who served.And thanks also to the famlies,some who gave the most,a loved one.
Welcome home brother from one who served to another who served.
Thank you for your service Nick. We appreciate you.
Don’t first..many vets live in RVs!
Happy Veterans Day to all of our vets
Well said and thank you, Nick.
For any vets who are near a Golden Corral, dinner is on them Monday, 14 November. Can’t say I enjoyed my enlistment, but I don’t regret it.
Thanks Nick for the great post and to ALL my Veteran brother and sisters thanks for your service and Welcome Home. VietNam 1969.
Thank you Nick for your service and thank you to all our current military and veterans. Your service is greatly appreciated!
There is another way that we should be saying thank you and in that regard we are failing: medical care. Our veterans are not often able to get the medical care they need and/or in a timely fashion. Our veterans, of all wars, deserve better than they are getting.,
Howdy BN,
Nick, thanks for doing your part in keeping us free.. You are welcome on my ranch at any time.. To ALL VETERANS THANK Y’ALL,
ALSO!! My service was a hi-lite of my life and I’m glad I did it.
Please, dear Heavenly Father, bring our military home safely..
Thank you for your service, Nick and your blog. I’m proud of my husband, a Viet Nam Vet, and all those who are serving and have served our country. The American Flags were everywhere in Wickenburg…a beautiful sight!
Well said Nick, thank you to all of our veterans, past, and present service members.
Welcome home brother from one who served to another who served