Peabody Award winning journalist Elmer Davis once said: “This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”
His quote reminds us that we enjoy our freedoms and way of life today because courageous men and women have risked – and continue to risk – their lives to defend America.
Last week, I was honored to take part in several tributes throughout Southwest Michigan on Veterans Day thanking our American patriots for their outstanding service.
Celebrated on the anniversary of the end of World War I, Veterans Day is a time to honor the enormous sacrifice and selfless dedication of our veterans. It emerged from the great outpouring of thanksgiving that marked the end of what was once called the Great War – a fight for freedom that was to end all wars.
As we know, that struggle continues. Through a second world war, conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, and now wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, America’s finest stand up for freedom and liberty.
These patriots left their families to ensure that we could live in the land of the free. Some never returned. Because of their valor, we live in a country that is the beacon of liberty and hope in the world.
Their great sacrifice is a debt we can never fully repay.
In heartfelt appreciation for their sacrifice on our behalf, I urge all Southwest Michigan residents to take time to thank our veterans for their service. Not just one day a year, but every day.
God bless our veterans and their families. Thank you.
