Home of the Brave
A century ago, world events thrust America into the position of one of the world’s great powers and gave us the responsibility of facing down the dictators, tyrants and bullies of the world to keep evil from prevailing. For that entire century, the burden has fallen overwhelmingly on American Veterans to keep that evil at bay.
At the end of the war that pushed America into this position, World War I, we began to observe November 11th as one day to thank those who have protected our nation and protected the world. As grateful Americans, we should thank our Veterans every day!
This Veterans Day, we have fresh evidence that terrible evil still exists in this world and we have even more evidence that we have brave Americans prepared to confront it and defeat it.
America is not kept safe by our wealth or our arms or the oceans that separate us from other nations but rather by the men and women who put the safety of our nation above their own safety time and time again. They are the reason we are secure.
From the American Revolution to the Civil War, from two world wars to the Cold War, America’s freedom has been protected by brave Americans who wear the uniform and pay the price. And today, that tradition of service and sacrifice continues as our troops fight for our freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq.
We often talk of what these heroes have done for us. But what have we done for these heroes? We owe those who have served – the support and care that they need. And we owe those who are still serving – the best pay, equipment and weapons possible.
This Veterans Day and every day, let’s do more than salute our troops; let’s support them. And let’s never forget that we are the land of the free only because we are home of the brave.