You deserve so much more than this one day. And unfortunately this year, your day comes right after the presidential election that has brought out the worst in people whose freedom you fought for. But I want you to know that for every person who burns our flag in protest, there are 1000 people who fly it high in their yards for all the world to be reminded of what it represents.
We fly Old Glory to celebrate the freedom you fought for and to let you know that we’re behind you; that we’re thankful for you; that we’ll never forget about you. And on Veterans Day, we fly it for those same reasons, but also to assure you that we know this day is about more than barbecues and having a day off from work. It’s about giving you the public recognition you deserve for making our country what it is today: home.
We have no idea what you’ve been through. We’ve seen movies like American Sniper and Saving Private Ryan that give us some insight as to what it’s like to fight overseas, but we know it’s not the same because we have the escape that the power button provides. We know you often relive moments from your service overseas and that you’re probably not the same person you were before you enlisted. But we’re with you. We support you.
There are few greater feelings than the humility that comes from thanking you for your service. We see you everywhere. Whether it be in full uniform, a hat, a t-shirt, or a bumper sticker, we notice you. We stare because we’re in the presence of a real life superhero. We can’t think of anything to say other than “thank you for your service” for the same reason people say goofy things when they’re with someone they like: we’re in awe of you. You’ve seen things that we can’t even remotely imagine. You risked your lives for our country and for all of us. And now you’re ordering food at Chick Fil A, you’re shopping for lamps at Macy’s, you’re waiting in line at Publix, you’re driving your car front of us; you’re doing things people do in their everyday lives. But you’re not just anybody.
You read a job description that involves being shot at, being afraid to fall asleep, fearing that one wrong step could be the end, spending months away from your family, and you signed your name next to it thinking “yeah but our country is worth it”. That’s incredible. You’re incredible. And we appreciate you. We thank you.
Although Veterans Day will come to an end, know that our respect and gratitude for you never will. For every American flag you see flying, for every time you see that We Were Soldiers, Lone Survivor, The Patriot, etc. are playing on TV, for every time your favorite football team stands for the National Anthem, let it be a reminder that you and your service will never be forgotten. Thank you
