Today, as you may have heard, is Veterans Day. Some people get it confused with Memorial Day, which honors our war dead. Veterans Day honors those who served in the military and are living. So many of us have never served in the military, or know anyone who has. That is too bad because veterans invested in our freedom.
To have served in our military is a high calling. Veterans stand in a long line of patriots -- from the American Revolution to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They deserve our respect and admiration. They deserve to be thanked when you see one. The World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 1,000 a day and soon there will be none left.
It's easy not to serve in the military in an all-volunteer age, but those who choose not to serve are missing out on something. Among other things, they are missing the discipline and leadership qualities that can come through military service. And they are missing the chance to invest in freedom and see their investment pay off in dividends for this and future generations.
Thank you, veterans. And, yes, I am one.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Publication date: November 11, 2011
