It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. — George Patton

My Take – It is no accident that attacks on our country by foreigners in the last 200 years are rare enough that we can name them off the top of our head.  It is no coincidence that even in the darkest hour of our political fortunes that we are able to openly and loudly criticize and agitate against our opponents.  The security of our shores and of our freedoms didn’t just emerge from the mists of antiquity.

All of these things are made possible because young men and women are willing to give up an easy life in order to work hard, sometimes under unimaginable conditions, and possibly come home in a box or not at all.

We mark this day to remember the day that the most horrific war that men had ever seen, up to that time, ended.  But wars never really end, and there will always be a need for a man to go on patrol or a woman to stand on the parapet.  We are fortunate that even in this age of comfort and privilege, there are still people willing to stand outside the light of the fire, watching and protecting.

To those who serve and those who have served, thank you.