American heroes

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the country stands still to remember those who have fought -- and are still fighting today -- for America.

While Veterans' Day is often seen as an inconvenient bank holiday for some, it is a holiday far more important to those who fully understand the sacrifices made by soldiers who put their lives in harm's way to protect what America holds dear -- freedom.

Freedom is often taken for granted in our day-to-day lives, but around every corner is another reminder, even for those not looking. If your day starts with a trip to the box at the end of your driveway for the morning paper, remember that the Second Amendment gives the freedom of the press, and that's why the paper isn't filled with government propaganda.

On Sundays in church, remember that you are free to come and go -- nobody is mandating your attendance at a specific church or requiring a certain belief, as those in charge in other countries without freedom of religion are.

Last week, millions of people went to polling places to elect leaders from local races to the president of this country. Those selections weren't predetermined -- the people chose them, because they had the freedom to do so.

On Thursday, thank a veteran. They'll be happy to know how much you appreciate what they did. Some elected to go to war, while others may not have had a choice -- they were drafted, a concept today's teens may find unfathomable. Still, they went, and we all should be thankful.

It's naive to think that all of America's conflicts and wars throughout history have been fought solely over protecting freedom, but tell that to a soldier in Fallujah, who is risking his or her life on a minute-to-minute basis, because they have been asked to do so.

For the younger generation, veterans have always been a grandfather who fought in World War II or perhaps an uncle who fought in Korea or Vietnam. Now, veterans are our brothers, our sisters, our sons and our daughters, many of whom are spending Veterans Day in harm's way. For all of them, take a moment Thursday to reflect on what is truly important in our lives -- and the role each and every veteran had in protecting it.