Thank You.

You enlisted because of a deeply felt calling to do something; or you simply sacrificed your own desires in order to follow the duty of your nation's call.

You endured the humiliation and pain of the rigorous training necessary to prepare you for the duty you would perform. Whether you endured that process with much complaining or with a willing heart - you endured it none the less.

You left behind your family and friends.

Perhaps you knew, that what you were doing was for their good.

The multitude of day to day activities that most of us take for granted - you gave up. Ball games, family dinner, church, scout troop meetings, fishing, reading a timely newspaper ... all these luxuries and more you relinquished.

As if that weren't enough, you entered the fray. You saw things no one should have to see. You followed orders when they made no sense, you endured the unthinkable hardships of war. Discomfort was the norm; rest was but a distant memory from a far away time. You became one with the earth: mud, stench, and gritty sand was your constant companion.

You were not alone. Folks back home were praying for you, some would send a note now and then. And you had your buddies - there was never a friendship like those forged in battle. Though God seemed so far away from the death and pestilence of war - you knew He was there - and you called on Him.

At some point, you were faced with a choice and you chose to do the right thing. You chose to forge ahead when others would have backed away, you chose to volunteer for the patrol no one else wanted, or you just chose to stay committed - to be at your post that day. . . and that choice took you from us.

At the moment, you may not have considered the value of your choice. You probably didn't see the vital role you were playing in the grand scheme of freedom. In fact, you may have felt completely forgotten in that destitute place, completely unaware of your role in history. You were "just doing your job", but for us your sacrifice was of great value!

"Greater love has no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends . . . "

To all the veterans who have yielded the ultimate sacrifice of their very lives in order to ensure the freedom of millions, and to their families who gave them up - because we cannot even begin to properly repay you - we simply offer this:

Thank you.