Have you hugged a Veteran today?

Nearly four years ago, when Laurie left military service (for a brief period of time :-), I bought a bumper sticker that said, "Have You Hugged a Veteran Today?" I put one on my car - and one on my desk at work...under the one star banner. It remains today - at work it is displayed now beneath my TWO star banner. At the time, it was my way of honoring Laurie's service, and that of her dad who is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War - US Navy. And it still does honor them. I am so proud of those who have served - and who STILL serve. They, God willing - will one day also be veterans.
This morning I received an email from Ron at work - it was simple. "Happy Veteran's Day, Army Grandma." My reply to him was simple as well - "Happy Veteran's Day NAVY VETERAN, ARMY GRANDPA."
We are free because of these men and women - present and past.
When I watch the miniseries, "Band of Brothers," (it's one of our favorites) I think of what it must have been like to freeze in the forests of Germany in the winter; or in other battle fields, to try to at least make it out of the water and onto the beaches of Normandy and Guam without being killed in action. My Uncle Bill was injured at 17 years old at Pork Chop Hill during the Korean War - he limps, but is proud of his service - in fact worked as a civilian for the Army until he retired some years ago. Thanks Uncle Bill.
These things, and others, are cause for thanksgiving - because by the grace of God and the courage of these men and women, our country is free. And this, after all, is what makes us who we are - America.