This phrase can be seen on the core values page of the official U.S Air Force website. As a child of two Air Force Veterans, these values really hit home, because for me, those are not just words on a digital page… they are a way of life. 

There is a sense of wonder and pride a child feels to have their active duty parent(s) come home after a long day of work, in their uniform, knowing they were serving our country. On the other hand, there are no words to describe the loneliness and anxiety experienced when that same parent is deployed for months – or even years – at a time. The life of a U.S military soldier can be unpredictable, but there is something that stays consistent through their service: sacrifice. 

One day a year, America comes together to honor and recognize the men and women who have sacrificed and risked everything to serve our country. Veterans Day is a day of remembrance, but also a day of celebration. A day to thank all those who served. 

Over time, Veterans Day has grown into more than just recognizing the service and sacrifice of Veterans; but to recognize their families as well. 

The choice to serve our country is not an isolated one. It affects the individual as well as everyone connected to them – from mothers and fathers, to the spouses left at home caring for children while they are deployed. It affects the eldest child who must carry additional burdens in hopes to lighten the load of the parent waiting anxiously at home. It affects the youngest children as they must navigate the uncertainty of life as their military parent comes and goes at different times. It affects brothers and sisters, cousins, grandparents – all those who may be needed to offer support when an injured Veteran requires extra assistance. 

On this one day every year, we recognize the sacrifice and selflessness it takes to serve our country. To be a Veteran is to be selfless, but to be the family of a Veteran is to be resilient. This Veterans Day, let us come together to honor the men and women who served with integrity and have put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, and may we also remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be free.