My fellow Veterans,

Brothers and Sisters in arms, thank you for your service! These words are heard often around Veterans Day, as the “thing to say.”  But I can tell you, I am very grateful for those who have served and those who continue to serve to keep our nation and its ideals safe from our enemies, both foreign and domestic.  Let’s all appreciate the sacrifices of each other and remember that we put a hold on life while we trained, and fought for what we still have today, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor, the protected will never taste.” 

While many of us still serve, now in the capacity of a veteran, our guns are silenced, but our voice is still mighty, we have an obligation to those who follow us from the uniform to our home front.  As we transition from warriors to fathers, co-workers, community leaders, and such, we will not forget our oath, ”I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”  For many of us, this remains our credo still today.  And we still serve. 

Enjoy this day that has been dedicated to us since the signing of the Armistice on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day, of the 11^th month, 1918. This is your day to reflect, remember, and rejoice in the brotherhood and sisterhood we know and cherish, and will fight for until death! Carry On!