“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” ~George Washington

As always, here are all the ways we should thank our veterans, active-duty service men and women, and those who have given their lives for our country.

Please remember those who have served are STILL sacrificing these things regularly because despite being told we live in the greatest country in the world, we still don’t take proper care of the greatest heroes of our nation.

According to stopsoldiersuicide.org:
• Veterans account for more than 9% of all adults experiencing homelessness in the U.S., translating to more than 39,000 homeless veterans on any given day.
• Among veterans experiencing homelessness, 59% are age 51 or older.
• Between 2009 and 2016, there was a 54% increase in the number of veterans age 62 or older experiencing homelessness.

Not to mention that there were over 6,000 veteran suicides in 2020, culminating in 20 consecutive years of 6,000+ veteran suicides each year. Over 125,000 veterans have taken their own lives since 2001. Suicide is the leading cause of death in veterans under age 45.

So, to all of the men and women who have served each branch of the military, thank you…

Thank you for sacrificing your time.

Thank you for sacrificing your safety.

Thank you for sacrificing your sleep.

Thank you for sacrificing being there for your children’s birthdays.

Thank you for sacrificing being there for the birth of your children.

Thank you for sacrificing being there for their first steps.

Thank you for sacrificing being there for their first words.

Thank you for sacrificing being there for their proms and graduations.

Thank you for sacrificing your holidays.

Thank you for sacrificing good food.

Thank you for sacrificing a comfortable place to sleep.

Thank you for sacrificing clean clothes.

Thank you for sacrificing hot showers.

Thank you for sacrificing your own physical and emotional well-being.

Thank you for sacrificing your life so that I have the freedom to live mine.

So many sacrifices, large and small, are being made every day — across the state, across the country, and across the world — to make my life more comfortable to live.

To all of the men and women who are currently serving or are past service members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserves. Thank you. It will never be enough, but I hope you know how thankful we are for your service.

Please reach out to the vets in your life and be a shoulder and ear because you never know when both may be needed.

If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with qualified Veterans Crisis Line responders for confidential help. Many of them are veterans themselves. This service is private, free, and available 24/7.

Here’s how you can connect with a Veterans Crisis Line responder, anytime day or night:
– Call 988 and select 1.
– Text 838255 and start a confidential chat.
–If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 800-799-4889.

And don’t forget that Webb Weekly and Dolly’s Diner are teaming up to offer a free meal to all veterans at any of the Dolly’s locations on November 9th until noon! This will be an excellent opportunity to connect with other veterans while enjoying breakfast.