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What does Veterans Day mean to you?

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Contributed by: Mike Mobley on 11/7/2007

My sons show me true meaning of Veterans Day
I know that in years past, Veterans Day simply meant another day out of school ... another day off work ... another day for some kind of celebration.
I never really took the time, as every American should, to try and know and understand why we celebrate Veterans Day. I do know now and I do understand now how the unselfish and sometimes heroic deeds of our Veterans of days past and of those in today's conflicts have preserved and secured our special way of life.

With two sons now serving, the true meaning of Veterans Day means even more. Matthew said, and I quote, "We do this so others don't have to." He was speaking for his brother also. I have come to know some family members whose sons have made the ultimate sacrifice in preserving our Freedoms. Those 7 young men epitomize the courage and selflessness that our military exhibits. They will always be a true "Band of Brothers." I thank all Veterans of wars past and those of today also. We are forever in their debt.

Sincerely,

A proud father of a Marine and a Paratrooper.

I have asked "What does Veteran's Day mean to me?" and been forwarded some special replies from some very special friends. I asked them all to say anything they pleased or nothing at all if they so chose. These are their comments below.

Mike Mobley
Highlands Ranch

Veterans preserve all our freedoms
Veterans Day: A day of military thanksgiving! A proud thank you to our veterans of today and yesteryear! A firm salute to our heroes and those who gave it their all! A day when I can reminisce with fellow veterans and visit those monuments of those who did indeed gave it their all and saved the world from tyranny and dictatorship. It is because of our Veterans both living and dead and current military that we still have our freedoms - count them, there is a multitude! Four generations of veterans in my family, and more to come based on the greed of mankind. I am proud to be an American, and especially to be a United States Marine, and shall do so until my dying breath, at which time I shall accept my final duty station, guarding the streets of heaven and reunite with some of my lost friends and relatives!

Semper Fi.

Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Herrage Jr.
United States Marine Corp, United States Marine Corp Reserve

Remembering good friends
In September 1964, 1st Force Recon Company deployed the first Dagger Thrust mission in South Vietnam. That was 43 years ago and I was a Lance Corporal assigned to the mission. It was a start of 30 months of combat in I Corps. This coming November 10th and 11th are a dual whammy with the Marine Corps Birthday and Veterans Day. I'll hoist a drink for my comrade-in-arms that survived to be with me, and take a moment to remember the good friends who didn't make it back and, in fact, all of those who gave the ultimate commitment to protect our country by force of arms.

Semper Fidelis/De Oppresso Libre.

Maj. Ron Speer
U.S. Army Reserve, United States Marine Corp

Veterans Day is a time for reflection
What Veterans Day means to me is a time to reflect on what, if any, part I played in keeping our country safe from aggression and imposition of another country's ideology upon this nation. It is also my time to reflect and pay a personal tribute to those who came before me and those today who continue to fight and represent our country in the preservation of our freedoms. Some paid a greater price than I did and to them I owe much. I've lost more friends/squadron mates than I can count on both hands and feet in training as well as combat over a span of 20-plus years of service. But if not us, then who will defend our country?

Cmdr. Tom Witowski
U.S. Navy

Can't help but think of older veterans
In no way do I mean to minimize or slight the contributions of the veterans of Korea, Vietnam, any of the Middle East wars, or any of the other unheralded or unknown conflicts that have protected our freedom or took our young men's lives and innocence. And even though I am a Vietnam veteran, when Veterans Day rolls around I can't help but think of our oldest veterans who are leaving us in droves each passing day.

Ken Freeman
U.S. Navy

In honor of my family's sacrifices
From a keenly personal perspective, it's a day to remember and honor the personal sacrifices my uncle and Dad made during WWII and those of the Marines with whom I served during the Vietnam era - particularly those that returned and did not receive a "hero's welcome." From a longer viewpoint, it affords me the opportunity to set aside a specific day to pay tribute to the nobility - the character, spirit, and willingness to sacrifice - demonstrated by all the men and women who have served (and are serving today) in the military (or in other capacities) in order to preserve our country and what it stands for.

Mike Cortright
United States Marine Corp

Editor's note: Click here to read about the future Highlands Ranch Veterans Monument and Veterans Day events in Douglas County.

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