Veteran's Day Remembrances

Today is Veteran’s Day.

As of the date of the last census, there were 26,403,703* veterans in the U.S. Even more men and women have served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world since those numbers were compiled.

Today is a day following close on the heels of the day when each of us is called upon to exercise our ultimate right and privilege as citizens.

It is a day to remember those millions who have fought throughout the history of our nation to protect that right.

It is a day to thank those who currently serve in our nation’s military for their willingness to serve.

It is a day to hug those who are here at home with us, having returned safely from service.

It is a day to remember those millions over the years who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives.

It is a day to encourage the families of the approximately 92,000 service members who are no longer with us because they are missing in action or unaccounted for.

It is a day to demand that our government offer support, medical treatment, and recovery services to the approximately 7.7 million service members who are injured or permanently disabled following their service.

It is a day to insist that the approximately 1.5 million veterans living in poverty and the approximately 200,000 veterans who are homeless not be forgotten and be given the opportunity for assistance, education, and support.

For we know that freedom is not free.

And we know that it is incumbent upon each of us who do not personally pay the price to offer our hands – in applause and in support – to those who have.

So to all veterans – and their families – THANK YOU!

* My stats are from http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0931832.html, which has a table summarizing the statistics from the 2000 U.S. census.