Gratitude Challenge: Day 11

Today's gratitude...is really an easy one. As a veteran myself, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve my country. I remember very clearly that day so many years ago, when I raised my hand for the first time, reciting this solemn oath

I Martha Louise Granum do solemnly swear
that I will support
and defend the Constitution of the United States against
all enemies, foreign and domestic.

That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that
I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of
evasion and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the
office on which I am about to enter. So help me God

It was truly an honor to serve my country, to care for not only
wounded and sick service members but also their family members. No one can truly appreciate the countless sacrifices that our active duty service members make each and every day. I was fortunate to see first hand how much these brave men and women give up in order to serve our nation. This Veteran's Day, I ask us all to remember the words of Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, chaplain, USMC who wrote

It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press

It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us the freedom to demonstrate

It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

now, get off the computer, and go make sure you are flying the colors today, ok?