Today is Veterans Day. To those of us who are of an older generation, it will always be Armistice Day.
While I served honorably in the Army, I am certainly no hero. I was never shot at or placed in harm’s way during my years of service. I am a patriot, who responded when my country called, and I wore the uniform of the United States of America with pride, honor, and dignity.
What, then, is a veteran? Simply put, a veteran is someone who at one point in his or her life signed a blank check payable to the U.S.A. for everything that he or she was, including that veteran’s very life.
What, then, is a patriot? A patriot is someone who contributes to the welfare of the community and the country, giving freely of time, talent, and treasure each according to his or her abilities. Being a patriot means, among other things, standing up for the freedoms and responsibilities that make America a great county.
