A salute: Their stories speak of courage, sacrifice. And we are grateful.

Today, on Veterans Day, you will hear accounts of real bravery, young men and women who have served their nation throughout the generations.

And, as a community, we will salute those who have served -- and remember along with the veterans among us their brothers in arms who never made it home.

But there is more to admire than simply the heroics on the battlefield -- although there are many, many inspiring stories of courage and sacrifice that will be told today.

These young men and women left their homes and their families to fight for something bigger than themselves. It really wasn't about them. Their nation called, and they answered.

And we, and millions of others, are free because they put on those uniforms.

We can only imagine the fear, the resolve, the courage it took to take up arms against an enemy whose sole desire was to eliminate those who stood for freedom.

We can only imagine fighting to save those who could not fight for themselves.

And no matter where they served or in what capacity, there is not one of these men and women who does not deserve the gratitude and admiration of the nation they serve.

That legacy of courage and selflessness continues today.

Thousands of men and women are on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base right now ready and willing to take up arms in defense of their countrymen -- and there are service members in every branch with the same resolve.

Today is the day we officially honor them. But they deserve our respect every day.

We are free because they serve (or served).

Published in Editorials on November 11, 2015 10:57 AM