Honoring Those Who Sacrifice

Today, we honor our nation’s veterans for all they have done to protect us, to protect our homeland, and to protect our way of life.  If it were not for their sacrifice—their selfless dedication to a cause greater than themselves—the United States would not be the country it is today.  We owe our lives and our prosperity to the United States military veterans that answered the ultimate call of duty.

On this day in 1918, at eleven o’clock in the morning—the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month—the armistice signed between the allies of World War I and Germany officially ended “the war to end all wars” or, as we now know it, World War I.  

In 1919, on the one-year anniversary of the war’s end, President Woodrow Wilson remarked, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”.

Unfortunately, as history continues to teach us, the hearts of evil men will never rest, and America’s freedom will always be challenged.  As we are all too aware, World War I was not the war to end all wars.  Every generation is faced with the sobering reality that we will never see that day come.  We in this country are blessed, however, that we are never lacking for a brave few who will carry the sacred mantle, take up arms, and protect that which we hold dearest.

Our freedom of speech, ability to worship as we please and the pursuit of happiness and liberty are all rights reserved to us by God and protected by our armed forces.  Until our planet is without tyranny, oppression, and those who seek to destroy our way of life, we will always lean on the brave men and women of our military to fight on the front lines in the defense of the American Dream.  Without them, we lose our freedom, and without our freedom, we lose what it is to be American.

On this Veterans Day, I encourage all Americans to reach out and express your deepest appreciation to veterans across the United States for all they have sacrificed in the name of freedom.  Fly an American flag outside your home or business, observe a moment of silence, visit a cemetery to pay respect to the fallen, say a prayer for the safety of those who wear our uniform or write a letter to an active duty solider currently serving our country in combat.  Whatever you decide, please don’t forget to thank the veterans of the United States military today and every day.

May God bless our veterans, our active duty military personnel, and the United States of America.

Sincerely,

Scott Garrett