Published: November 12, 2008 02:35 pm      

Column: Myriad ways to honor veterans

There is a Chinese proverb that reads, "When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them."

The same could be said about us, as we eat the fruits of freedom our veterans toiled and labored for at home and abroad.

I am always proud to see a serviceman or woman in uniform as I travel through an airport. I see people all the time — I do it myself — going up to them and thanking them for serving our country.

Those in unform seem so humble and appreciative at this gesture.

One airline on which I flew read off the names of all the servicemen on board, after which a thunderous patriotic applause erupted.

These men and women literally put their lives on hold to serve our country.

They do not ask why when given a task; they just do. Duty, honor and commitment are their creed.

This Veterans Day we all should humbly give thanks to the veterans who have sacrificed and served our country. They deserve our respect and admiration because they wear or wore the uniform of the United States of America when duty called.

How can one put into words or properly express thanks to these veterans?

• I believe we do so by the way we live our lives every day.

• We do so by not taking for granted the freedoms we enjoy.

• We do so by respecting our laws.

• We are expressing thanks to them every time we cast a vote in an election.

• We are communicating our gratitude by the way we sustain our leaders -- not in a childlike, no-questions-asked manner, but as I believe they would expect, with questions, accountability, debate, checks and balances. For a free society demands such.

• We honor them when we reach down and lift up another who is downtrodden or in need.

• We are at our best and humbly acknowledge their service when we honor the traditional values of our fathers.

• We honor them when we worship as our conscience dictates.

• We honor them when we recognize that all lives sacrificed anywhere for the cause of justice and liberty are noble.

• We honor their sacrifice by carrying the torch of freedom to those parts of the world where men and women long to be free. This torch is fueled by the dedication, blood, sweat and tears of the veterans, and can never be extinguished.

• We honor them by teaching our children to love and respect our country.

I believe we have a solemn duty to our veterans and their families to ensure that freedom1s light never grows dim.

We must never forget that the light of freedom can be extinguished, but not by any enemy that may dare storm our shores. No, the only way it can be extinguished is through our own complacency.

The United States of America is the envy of the world. And I believe the envy is not solely for her wealth or might, but more for her people and for the God-given principles of freedom upon which they prosper and stand.

May our Heavenly Father continue to bless this great land, our leaders and our mighty veterans.

We eat daily the fruits of freedom because our veterans toiled and labored, home and abroad, in the cause of liberty.



Robin L. Quillon writes for teh Johnstown (Penn.) Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at rquillon@tribdem.com.