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Today is Veteran's Day, a time for us to honor not only those who were Killed in Action (KIA), Wounded in Action or Missing in Action (MIA) but those who came home alive and those who served in peace time to assure our safety.  This country is great because of the sacrifice and dedication of our citizen soldiers who come from every economic strata, every race, religion and cultural sub-group.  We have liberty because of their service and sacrifice.

I remember during the presidential campaign, Sarah Palin telling a protesting heckler that her son was in Iraq fighting for his First Amendment right of free speech, and that really hit home.  The military does not ask your political or ideological affiliation when you are swore in, nor do they demand that you conform to an official religion or party doctrine to serve. This is not the case in many other nations, and it is one of the hallmarks of freedom that we should so dearly cherish. 

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

It is a simple binding oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic and a solemn pledge to personal allegiance to the Constitution.  A beautiful, poignant and concise statement of values that a man or woman pledges their life too.  I personally believe that every citizen should be asked to take that oath and understand the full weight and privilege that it carries.

Today there are 23,442,000 U.S. Veterans living in the United States.   2,583,000 of those served in World War II.  According to the Veteran's Administration 900 WWII veterans pass away each day.  Find one and tell them how much you value their service and their sacrifice.  Tell them that you value your freedom and you too will defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies.  They don't hear it enough, and one day a year is a pitiful payment.

Let me share with you some statistics.

• There are 2,950,000 disabled veterans living in the United States
  
  
• There are 261,897 totally disabled veterans living in the United States
  
  
• 342,624 veterans are being treated for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome 

Here is our history of military servicemen and woman.  Stop, read each number and give thanks for the legacy that they have passed down to you, no strings attached.






These are the men and woman who nourished the tree of liberty with their blood.

Find a veteran today and make sure he or she knows just how grateful you are for their service and sacrifice. Visit a cemetery today and look at the flags that will adorn the graves of these fallen heroes and say a thankful prayer.