Admit it, most of us don't know what it's like.
We've never been handed orders that uproot our entire lives in 48 hours.
We've never said goodbye to family wondering if - or when - we'd return.
We've never sat on the edge of a cot in the dark, knowing tomorrow meant danger. Legit danger. That kind of danger that changes people, even when it gives them a second chance.
Some people have and today is all about them. It's also about the people who held it all together, while they were gone.
Service doesn't happen in a vacuum. It stretches across dinner tables with empty chairs. It stretches across Birthdays celebrated through pixelated video calls (or less). It stretches across partners who carried double the weight, the kids who learned the word "deployment" way too early, and the parents who endured countless sleepless nights, lying awake in worry.
They didn't ask for parades. They didn't serve so they could hear "Thank you for your service" once a year for the rest of their lives.
They did it because they believed in something bigger than themselves, even when that belief came with great expense.
Something we often forget is that service doesn't end when the uniform comes off. Many veterans come home carrying things you'll never see. Memories that show up at 3 a.m., nerves that still brace for a bang, or a body that aches in places the VA waitlist can't quite fix.
Today, go ahead and fly your flag, post your tribute, and shake a vet's hand. But also:
~ Listen to their stories, even the quiet ones between the lines.
~ Acknowledge the families who served in their own way.
~ Donate to the organizations doing the heavy lifting after the welcome home signs come down.
~ Be someone they'd be proud to protect, someone worthy of their sacrifice.
Veterans aren't relics of the past; they're part of our everyday world. They're our neighbors, our coworkers, our parents, our kids, and our friends. They aren't heroes in movies, they're real people who said "yes" when we needed them the most.
That deserves far more than a "like". It deserves our time, our appreciation, and our humanity.
To those who served, and those actively serving, we honor you. To the families who walk that road beside them, thank you for your strength and commitment.
Happy Veterans Day!
