Share: 
Friday Editorial

Value your freedoms - thank a veteran

November 8, 2013

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Preamble to the Constitution

The Boston Red Sox recently defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series to become world champions in baseball for 2013. Millions of people watched this uniquely American sport on television. Before each game, a variety of accomplished musicians stepped onto the green grass of the playing field, stood before microphones and sang our national anthem.

When cameras panned the standing crowd, they invariably found groups of uniformed soldiers. Honor guards representing the branches of the military stood at attention, silently, near those singing. They all served as a reminder that the men and women of our military are on duty, constantly, while we work, while we play, while we’re awake, and while we’re asleep to “provide for the common defense ... and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”

On Monday, Nov. 11, our nation will observe Veterans Day. Just as soldiers in the crowds at baseball and football games remind us of the importance of the military to our nation’s existence, so too does Veterans Day remind all of us of the importance of remembering those who have committed significant portions of their lives to serving their country.

Our veterans and current service people pledged to put their lives on the line to ensure that the “broad stripes and bright stars” of our flag will continue to fly “o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” They deserve our thanks that come with the Veterans Day holiday. But we don’t have to wait for Veterans Day each year to say thank you to soldiers and veterans for their service. We cross their paths daily, and simple words of thanks spoken in their direction from time to time are an easy and much appreciated way to show that we value our freedoms and their important role in preserving them.

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter