To Those Who Have Served...

I don't consider myself an overly patriotic person. If you know me, you know I speak the truth.That said, as a daughter of a veteran, certain things have always been part of my life. It is ingrained in me to stop and take a moment to remember every time I hear "Taps," to show a little respect by not hollering and whooping it up when the performer sings those last few lines of our national anthem and to kindly point out when people display our flag incorrectly.

{Photo: here - used under Creative Commons}

I've also always had a deep respect for those serving in our armed forces. On Veterans Day, however, I find it hard to express gratitude in the right way. It's tough to truly honor those who have served. Much of the time, it feels as though nothing can quite repay the debt.

So today I'll simply say, "thank you."

To my friends and family members who have served and to all of those in the armed forces: Thank you. I don't say it enough and I'm not sure I ever could.

In light of that, I came across this quote and it struck a chord:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The quote is a great reminder to show our gratitude through our actions -- not just on days like today -- but every day.

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