An Open Letter to and about our Veterans
It's Veterans Day 2009. I just returned from the cemetery where I visited the grave site of my father, a WWII Veteran. I'm sitting in my comfortable office in my comfortable home, in my comfortable, quiet neighborhood, in a state and nation that respects me and allows me to live freely, voicing my opinions as I like, whether or not those opinions agree or collide with the majority or the governing body. And I do this during a time of war, not peace. How is this possible? In a world where there is so much grief and strife, how is it that I can live such a comfortable existence, especially when our country is in the middle of a war, the loss of which would mean the annihilation of this type of existence? The answer is our Armed Forces. It always has been. The men and women, who for over 233 years have put their lives on the line for the rest of us. All gave some, some gave all. From the men at Valley Forge to the men in Iraq, I owe gratitude. To every person who has ever served ...