Veterans Day 2009

Today is Veterans Day here in America; the day we annually honor military veterans.

In some, other, countries, Remembrance Day or Armistice Day is celebrated on November 11. Remembrance or Armistice Day is to specifically remember the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice).

Few things in life are free. I appreciate all our service men and women have, and continue to, sacrifice so that I can enjoy living in America and experiencing the freedoms we all have.

Both my father and mother were in what was called the Army Air Core in those days. My mother was only enlisted a few years, and my father had retired by the time I was born. Neither of my two older sisters, nor myself, have ever been in the military. Currently my oldest son Devon is technically in the Army; when he graduates in May 2010 he will be on active duty. My oldest son's fiance will also be on active duty in May 2010.

Devon has a favorite quote from John Stuart Mills that I think fits well on Veterans Day:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

Today I'm thinking about how grateful I am for all the men and women who have helped keep me free.