Saying thanks to veterans for their protection and sacrifices

By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, Public Health Educator for the Orleans County Health Department

Veterans’ Day for some the day is mixed with emotions, some good, some not so good and unfortunately for many, it is just another day or a day off.

According to Wikipedia, “Veterans Day is an official United States holiday which honors people who have served in armed service also known as veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark the anniversary of the end of 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, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect.)

Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day; Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving.”

When pondering on what to write for this week’s column the thought of so many who have given their service and for some, their lives, the thought of saying thank you in a health column was easy to consider.

Many of those who have served in our Armed Forces over the years were serving either because they wanted to do something for this great nation we live in. For some, they entered the service because they were drafted and didn’t have a choice and for others they were looking for job training, structure, and / or an adventure. Whatever the reason, thank you!

Thank you for doing your best to protect our freedoms. Thank you for doing your best to protect our borders. Thank you for leaving your families and potentially risking your lives for those of us who live here. Thank you for ignoring the rudeness of those who treated your poorly when you returned home from service because they disagree with what you stand for.

Thank you to your families who stood by you through the mail and more recently through technology. Thank you to your families who missed you and thank you to you for all the dinners, nighttime tuck-ins, school events, parties, weddings and good-byes you couldn’t say because you were / are protecting us.

Whatever your reason for serving, whatever your experiences while serving, you are appreciated and your service and sacrifices are not forgotten.

Thank you!

Editor’s note: Nola Goodrich-Kresse sent this in time for Veterans’ Day. My apologies for not posting it sooner.