Veteran's Day is one of several holidays that should be celebrated every day of the year. Still, a special day has been set aside for it, for good reasons. Understanding why it is important can be summed up, though not explained, by saying, "Remember." The explaining is more involved, but not difficult to understand.

In the United States of America, we have many freedoms. Some of these aren't often thought about, sadly. However, since our nation came into existence, brave men and women have fought and died to guarantee those freedoms.

Many thousands have fought and died on foreign soil, and are buried there, to extend the same possibilities to people of other countries. Quite a number more have been killed while performing humanitarian aid, again helping others unselfishly.

It goes far beyond this, though. Time, effort, equipment, toil, tears, and sacrifice have all gone into making this a great nation, and the engine that drives this is our military men and women. Not all have perished in combat. However, none have been useless positions without purpose. Each and every one has contributed to the whole.

It is hard to imagine any part of our daily lives that aren't in some way impacted by the efforts, sacrifices, and sometimes lives of our military personnel. Most spend lonely months or years away from their loved ones to do the task. Many return maimed.

Yet, without all they have done and continue to do, we wouldn't have the right to believe what we want to believe, the right to work in the professions we choose, the right to hold lawful assemblies, or even the right to complain if we so desire.

We wouldn't have the opportunities to live where we choose, to purchase our own homes and land, and we would not have the incentive to become better every day in every way.

A meaningless existence is what we'd be left with. Others would dictate what we could say and do, when we could say and do them, we would be told what to think, how to live, and if we did well, it would be taken away and given to someone else who probably did nothing to earn it.

In fact, those military personnel keep America's spirit burning bright.

All of this is why veterans are so extremely important, but it doesn't explain why Veteran's Day is. For this, we come full circle to the statement that it is about remembering.

Our vets have given up so much, done so much, and many have suffered so much, that even setting aside a single day a year just to honor and remember them falls far short. They are out there every day, working to keep us safe. Those who have fallen have already given all they had, and many would have done the same thing in the same circumstances if they hadn't died.

Why is Veteran's Day important? Because, without all they have done, there wouldn't be a USA as we know it. Veteran's day is a salute to our sometimes forgotten but hard working military people, past and present.

As a former member of the military, it is with supreme gratitude that I remember all of them on this day, and it is with emotion that I accept and appreciate it when people make it a point to simply say, "Thank you for your service" when they find out that I served. This is a day for all veterans. Be proud of them when you see them, and be prouder if you know them.

Learn more about this author, Rex Trulove.
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