And Crown Thy Good With Brotherhood

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
 - Greek proverb

I know of no better way to describe the sacrifice of men and women in our U.S. armed forces than this proverb. Replace "old" with "young" and it's a more perfect thought.

This Veteran's Day, I don't have enough words thank all who have come before and those who serve now. Thank you, veterans, for your commitment to our security, whether in a long-ago conflict, peacetime or in these last ten years of war. Thank you for putting aside your own pleasures and free time to make our country safe. Thank you for putting yourself in harm's way so our children can live freely. Thank you for bearing the sights, sounds and scars of violence so that we don't have to. Thank you for serving honorably in the midst of misunderstanding, political turmoil and even hate. Thank you to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, one you knew might one day come. Thank you for loving a cause, a flag, a nation more than yourself.

A very special thank you to my own veteran, my husband, 1LT Anthony Rea. I am so proud of you and your service. Your quiet determination to lead soldiers and train them to the highest standard inspires me. Our small family is grateful for your tireless spirit and will always stand by you, because this is our calling too.

God bless America and may we never forget the cost of our liberty.