It’s been a year for the history books, and certainly not the best one. Our country has been, and continues to be in the midst of several difficult challenges, with seemingly no perfect resolutions in the near future. However, tomorrow, I encourage every one of us to set aside any anger, or fear or frustrations we may have, to remember and give thanks for our military, both veterans and current service members.

Even with all the challenges we face as a nation, I cannot help but reflect on previous wars and current conflicts and how the men and women of the US Military work relentlessly to maintain our safety and freedom.

My father fought in World War II, as so many did. As a child, I knew this, but not really understanding the scope of it, I never gave it much thought. As an adult, I think about the sacrifices he made, leaving his family knowing that he may not get the chance to return. We are fortunate that he did. I also think about the sacrifices his loved ones made in letting him go. These struggles continue for today’s military families and for this we owe them a debt of gratitude.

So whether you attend a public event, or just take a private moment to reflect, please acknowledge Veterans Day and all those who have sacrificed for the greater good.