By Patricia L Johnson

Roughly 10 days ago this country celebrated Halloween and our children roamed through the streets in their store bought or homemade costumes carrying the huge bags needed to hold their ‘trick or treat’ goodies.

The towns were lit up with colored lights; friendly ghosts and goblins raced from house to house while giant spiders were in the trees and on the rooftops. Pumpkins were carved and lit, while witches and warlocks were on the warpath. A normally quiet evening was suddenly filled with shrieks and squeals of laughter from the children.

After years of fearing pins, needles and razorblades in apples, we’ve come full circle and our children and grandchildren are finally able to experience the same joys we had as children celebrating Halloween.

Now it’s time for both the children and adults to celebrate.

Today the United States will be celebrating another holiday. Unfortunately, it is a holiday that has been sadly overlooked and neglected by most of us. Aside from the parades and speeches by politicians, few of us actually celebrate Veterans Day, yet without our Veterans many of us would not be celebrating any holidays.

The 2008 Statistical Abstract estimates there are 23.7 living veterans. With almost 24 million veterans alive, that means most of us know, or know of a veteran. When was the last time you thanked a veteran, or mailed them a card wishing them a Happy Veterans Day? Cooked a special dinner, or baked a Veterans Day cake in celebration?

Some of us may not understand the meaning of Veterans Day or understand who qualifies as a Veteran, which is understandable since Memorial Day is set aside for veterans that died during wartime while Veterans Day acknowledges both the living and the dead; therefore the two holidays may be somewhat confusing.

It is time for us to recognize the living and thank them for their service to our country. We also need to remember that our thank you should extend beyond our shores as there are soldiers in countries around the world that have fought side by side with our forces.

To each and every Veteran out there – THANK YOU for serving our country.

For the veterans that are still serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, may God be with you and bring you home safe.

To the young men and women that are considering joining the military – May peace be with you.

© 2008 Patricia L Johnson