“Thank You for keeping us safe. Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for saving us from danger.”

One after the other the letters written by children from a neighborhood Elementary School were delivered to the wounded soldiers recovering at a local Veteran’s Hospital.

“Dear Veteran… Dear Mr. Soldier… Dear Service Women…

You are in our hearts.”

Pure loving expression pouring through each letter reminding me, one more time, that Love is a natural state so readily accessible and available in children and to witness it so beautifully tendered without reserve on the faces of those Veterans who on this day of commemoration were laid up in hospital beds recovering into an uncertain future a true blessing of compassion.

Sometimes you can lose sight of the losses and the sacrifice in the rush of living our lives. But. Nothing brings it so heart-renderingly home than seeing how a simple delivery of a letter filled with Love brings a spot of joy to a Veteran who lost his leg and arm moving into the first steps of recovery. Reminding him, he is not forgotten. He is held very tenderly in our collective community.

I join with these children.

“Thank you for keeping us safe. Thank you for protecting us. We appreciate the sacrifice you have made to our country.”

“We are grateful that you protect us from danger. Thank you for being so strong. We respect you. We love you.

I want to grow and be just like you ~ selfless and brave.”

Veteran’s Day commemorates the U.S. men and women who have given of themselves in military service to our country. Men and woman who went into battle, who live life with a code and purpose and most admirably with a discipline of faith and truth in a system designed to keep us safe and let freedom ring. To enable those of us lucky enough to live in America the possibility to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Today is a time of remembrance. It is a time to honor those who encourage the ideals that we all share.

Peace on earth.
Freedom of expression.
Love of our neighbors.
Service to our country.

Every soldier has a story. Every soldier knows why they endure the atrocities they endure. Every soldier past and present puts their heart on the line to a greater knowing that the safety and freedom of the whole is worth the sacrifice. As we move through this understanding may there be peace in our hearts and love in our lives.

Volunteering with the Vets this year gave me a chance to understand the depth with which a society works in all its facets and upon completing my first day of Volunteering at the VA hospital I saw the message designed for my heart to see.

“Missions Change. Warriors Do Not.”

In peace and honor. God Bless America.

Happy Veteran’s Day!