Never Forget the Price of Freedom
As Veterans Day approaches, I find myself thinking about the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform and the tremendous debt of gratitude we owe them.
Our veterans are those who said “yes” to serving something bigger than themselves. They gave their time and their strength, and in many cases, they made sacrifices that changed the course of their lives. They stood ready to protect our freedoms, our communities, and our way of life. We may never know the full cost of that service, but we can honor it by remembering, by saying thank you, and by never taking their sacrifice for granted. Veterans come from all across the country, from every walk of life, and many from every corner of Texas. They are our neighbors, friends, family members, coworkers, and fellow county officials. They have served in times of peace and in times of war, and each one has made a commitment that deserves our deepest respect.
As county officials, we spend much of our time working to make our communities better. We talk about roads, budgets, public safety, infrastructure, and the many needs of the people we serve. These responsibilities matter, but none of them would be possible without the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Our veterans helped protect those freedoms.
Service to our country requires sacrifice. It may mean being away from family, missing birthdays and holidays, facing uncertainty, or putting one’s own life in harm’s way so that others can live safely and freely. That kind of sacrifice is difficult to fully comprehend unless you have experienced it yourself.
Veterans Day gives us an opportunity to pause from our busy lives and simply say, “Thank you.” Although those two words should be expressed to veterans and active military often, we also need to take time to listen to our veterans’ stories, learn about their experiences, and make sure the next generations understand what their service has meant.
As county leaders, we also have a unique opportunity to recognize veterans in our communities. Attend a Veterans Day ceremony. Visit a veterans’ organization. Invite veterans to share their stories. Make sure the veterans in your county know that their service has not been forgotten. We should also remember the families who stood behind them. Their sacrifices matter, too.
Veterans Day is not simply about looking back. It is a reminder of the responsibility we have today. The freedoms entrusted to us are worth protecting, preserving, and passing on to those who come after us. To every veteran across Texas and across our great nation: Thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, and your service to our country. We may never be able to repay the debt we owe you, but we can honor you by remembering, by serving our communities well, and by never taking our freedoms for granted. We will never forget that the freedoms we exercise every day were protected by someone willing to serve.