Veterans Day: ‘A day to remember, acknowledge and share gratitude’

  • Published
  • By Brig. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman
  • Commander, 502d Air Base Wing

Over the years, Veteran’s Day has had many names: Armistice Day, Day of Peace, or Remembrance Day. I most often think of Veteran’s Day as a day for remembrance, acknowledgement and gratitude.

This is a day to remember, acknowledge and share gratitude for the fact that we have over 18 million veterans in our country. One in every 17 people in the United States has served in our military. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends and colleagues are all veterans.

This is a day to remember, acknowledge and share gratitude for the families, friends, and communities who have faithfully supported all of us who have served and who continue to support all of us who still serve. This unwavering foundation behind the scenes often goes without recognition and yet it is so very essential to our resiliency and success.

This is a day to remember, acknowledge and share gratitude for our sisters and brothers in arms who have given the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that tyranny and evil will never prevail. May we keep them and their loved ones close in our thoughts and prayers.

And, this is also a day to remember, acknowledge and share gratitude for our deeply embedded American legacy of service that is a cornerstone of our country. Our generosity of spirit and willingness to engage in military operations whenever and wherever necessary, even though they cost our nation blood and treasure, is what we do as Americans.

I am extremely proud to be an American and I trust you will join me in celebrating Veterans Day this year with a sense of remembrance, acknowledgment and gratitude.

May God bless all of you, our veterans, and the United States of America.