Let’s remember to appreciate, honor veterans Recognize those who have served our nation — they earned it
By John Williams
Published: November 11, 2008
I had the pleasure of meeting several Edmond veterans and their spouses last week at the Edmond Senior Center.
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These people are amazing, a real inspiration and a delight to be around. I told my wife later I must have been born in the wrong generation.
Like many of you, I had relatives who served during World War II. But I’ve never heard their stories of what life was like for them during this trying time. Admittedly, what I know most about that era comes from shows like "Band of Brothers” and "Saving Private Ryan.”
But if half of what I’ve witnessed in these movies of courage and sacrifice is true, I know that I am forever indebted to these men and women of the Greatest Generation.
I fear sometimes for this next generation of young people, the ones I call the Instant Gratification and Disposable Generation. Without knowing the stories of our veterans during World War II, Korea and Vietnam, I am afraid their example of love of country, duty, honor and giving will be wasted.
On this Veterans Day, I think the greatest honor we can bestow on these men and women who have served us all is to take time to get to know them, stop and listen, and learn from their lives and determine to enjoy our freedom thanks to their sacrifice.
These men and women are our national treasures. They laid a foundation with blood, sweat and toil and now we are reaping the rewards of freedom. I, for one, will not take these gifts of God for granted, nor leave them on a shelf along with history books.
If you have a loved one who served our country recently, call them or go see them today and spend the day with them. For the rest of us, if you see a veteran or any of our men and women currently wearing the uniform of our military services, stop and introduce yourself, and say thanks. That’s little payment in light of what they’ve given, but if it comes from the heart, it can be life sustaining to them.
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What is your Thanksgiving routine? Do you like to stay at home or travel to relatives’ homes for dinner? Start the conversation by sending an e-mail to jwilliams@opubco.com.
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
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