Thank You

Today is Veteran's Day and I want to say "Thank you" to all veterans. Thank you for leaving the comforts of home to go to a hostile land where you may have had to live in primitive and dangerous conditions. Thank you for leaving your family for months at a time to fight to defend our freedom. Thank you for your bravery in the face of danger in far away places. Thank you for giving of your self so that people back home could be free to take your name in vain. Thank you for defending the cause of freedom in places that have not known freedom. Thank you for the sacrifice of jobs and your personal security so that those at home may be secure. Thank you for the sacrifice of your life and health so that others can enjoy the gift of freedom and democracy. Thank you for the times that you have missed precious times in the lives of your families- births, first words and steps, graduations, marriages and deaths-- while serving a greater cause.

There is another group on this day that I would also like to thank. Thank you to all of the families who have given so graciously of your loved ones. Some of them have been on loan to the country and the world, and others have been permanently given to the cause of freedom and justice for all. You have spent times alone and waited patiently for loved ones to return, sometimes in futility.

Whether you are a veteran of combat or a veteran of military service in peace time, I honor you and the sacrifice of years from your life so that a greater cause may be served. THANK YOU.

Remembering Others at the Holidays

I know, it is mid-October and the thought of the holidays is probably not first and foremost in the midst of the political and economic climate in our country. In spite of this, Thanksgiving will be here in just 45 days AND just 28 days later it will be Christmas.

Just as retailers have already been thinking about Christmas for a couple of months in order to be ready for the selling season, it is also necessary to think about sharing holiday wishes with out troops who will not be home for the holidays. It takes a long time for military mail to reach our military heroes and if it is to arrive in time for Christmas, some forethought must start NOW! By the time that the non-stop holiday music is playing it will almost be too late to include our brave fighting men and women in our plans. In the past, I had participated in the "Any service person" mail program, but this has been discontinued. eMail Our Military has taken up where this effort stopped to provide a way for holiday greetings from all over the country can be sent to miliary personnel stationed all over the world.

Today eMail Our Military announced their 7th Annual Holiday Love Project for our Troops and I want to make sure that the word is spread. Check out their blog, http://tinyurl.com/4uj6jn for a list of things that you, your family, friends, co-workers, scout troops, community group, church.....could do to be sure that warmest holiday wishes reach as many of our troops in foreign lands as possible.

Get in the holiday mood by hosting a Hanukkah or Christmas card party. Either buy cards and have a signing party or, better yet, have a card MAKING party and get out your best papers, stamping supplies, markers, colored inks and even some of the scrapbooking supplies that you have sitting in the closet. It is so much better to give than to receive and this takes just a little effort to bring so much joy.

While you are visiting eMail our Military's site, don't forget to look at all of the other ways that you can contribute year round to keep young men and women far away from family and home connected. Do it for those who are fighting to protect YOUR freedom and have a Blessed Holiday.