Veterans deserve far more than a single day of thanks

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are 17 million surviving war veterans in the United States.

All of them have put their lives on the line for their country. All were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for us. And many must live with the memory of seeing their comrades do just that.

Nov. 11 has been designated as Veterans' Day, but for too many of us, it has become just a day off, just an opportunity to take advantage of sales at the mall.

Wherever we are, we should seriously contemplate the sacrifices veterans, living and dead, have made for us.

I ask everyone at Germanna to pause today at 4:30 p.m. to remember the brave men and women who have served and are serving our nation, those who gave a part of their lives or indeed their very lives to protect us and freedom.

As we sit in our classrooms we should express deep gratitude to those who protect us so we can teach and learn and live.

Today we thank all of America’s veterans, from those who fell during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars to those serving our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan today.

But our gratitude is not limited to this single day. We should thank the veterans we meet each and every day.

They have earned our eternal gratitude and undying respect.