It’s Veterans Day—one of my favorite days of the year. (Okay, let’s be real here. Every patriotic day falls into that category for me.)

Through the years, I have had the privilege of knowing many of America’s Veterans, including many in my family. They are people that I look up to and respect for their service to our nation.

America’s Veterans have been the guardians of freedom in a world of tyrants. They have been the defenders of innocence in a world of evil. They are the heroes in a world void of courage.

From the first soldiers to take up arms against Great Britain in our fight for Independence, to the courageous Americans who fought against the Barbary Pirates, and then all the way up to our wars in the Middle East, American Veterans have come though time and again.

Roughly 41 million Americans have served in our military since we were founded. Of that 41 million, about 18 million are still living.

That means we have a whole lot of Veterans to thank today! I challenge you to seek out a Veteran today, and thank them for serving our country.

Maybe you’ll see one in the grocery store, or maybe some of your family members are Veterans. Make sure to tell them thank you!

Remember, that freedom has to be protected and defended. It doesn’t come without a price. Our Veterans paid that cost for us.

A. M. Watson

Hebrews 13:8