The United States of America has been at war 229 out of the possible 247 years since we became a sovereign nation. A God bless and heartfelt thank you to all our Veterans. Every freedom we enjoy has been provided by the grace of God and the servicemen and women of the United States Armed Forces.
“On this special day, our hearts and thoughts turn to all the Nation’s Veterans. Let us reflect on the great achievements of those whose sacrifices preserved our freedom and our way of life. With a spirit of pride and gratitude, let us recall their heroic accomplishments and thank them for their unselfish devotion to duty. They are indeed worthy of the solemn tribute of a grateful Nation.” ~ President Ronald Reagan
As I am penning this column, the American soldier is again being asked to defend freedom in the name of good around the world. Troops that include local men and women being deployed to places most of us would never want to go. A world that is already at war in the Middle East is on the brink of conflict on several other fronts. The most agonizing aspect for both a soldier and his family is never knowing what the next day may bring and where.
The true reality of military life is that you may be asked to give up your future for the preservation of our American way of life. Hopefully, those who find themselves in the worst spots of duty as the world continues to go mad will someday enjoy the honor and deserved thanks on Veterans Day.
Please make sure to take the time to thank these true American Heroes who now live amongst us. No matter when they served, what they did, or how long their service was, they laced up their boots for the United States of America.
As I stated last week, it’s great to see so many events throughout the month of November to honor our area Veterans. Thank you to every organization, agency, municipality, and business that makes this happen.
Just a reminder, with Veterans Day falling on Saturday and so much going on, our annual Dolly’s Diner/Webb Weekly Veterans Appreciation Breakfast will be on Thursday, November 9th. Full details can be found right underneath my column.
It is, again, our privilege to be teaming up with the Dolly’s Diner family to provide area Veterans with an All-American breakfast. If there is a veteran in your life that just can’t quite get there on their own, please make sure they can attend. I guarantee they won’t go away hungry.
A special tip of my cap to Ron ‘C.I.’ Insinger, his wife Carol and family, as well as the entire Dolly’s Diner family for the great job they do in saying thank you and feeding our Vets.
In addition to this, I want to make mention of the great work George Heim and his team have been doing for the past 20 years. Any Veteran may have their vehicle washed all day on November 11th at no charge. This is available at all the Ultimate Express Car Washes across the West Branch Valley. George and his staff provide the Ultimate Plus Wash, and a sincere thank you to all Veterans who take him up on the offer.
Please make the time on Veterans Day to reach out to that special family member, friend, or neighbor and thank them for their selflessness and service to our great Nation. Please also, in passing, take the time to randomly thank any Veteran you come across. Believe me, it will be greatly appreciated. Even more importantly, we all need to support and make sure our past, present, and future American Soldiers are taken care of each and every day.
We all witness the effects of war and serving our Nation and what effect that may have on an individual and their family. It is truly heartbreaking in so many cases. The physical and mental toll a soldier faces is difficult for the average American to even comprehend. The true effects often do not show up until long after their service has ended.
SWPD Santa Sign-Ups
Another tip of my cap to the South Williamsport Police Department. The SWPD Christmas fund will be providing gifts to children of families in South Williamsport and Duboistown who may need a helping hand this holiday season.
It is the goal of the SWPD to ensure there are 3-4 presents under everyone’s tree on the South Side. The program is for children 15 years old and younger. Again, this is for residents of South Williamsport and the Duboistown area. Now, here is the important part: you must sign up ahead of time and provide your children’s ages so the SWPD can make sure the gifts are age-appropriate.
There will be two sign-ups held; the first one is this Sunday, November 12th, from 4 until 6 p.m. The second will be Saturday, December the 2nd, from 6 to 8 p.m. Please call the department at 570-327-8152 Extension 205. The office is open Monday through Friday between 8 and 4 to request a time slot.
If any individual or business within the community would like to donate to the SWPD Christmas Fund, it’s not too late. Contact Corporal Stropp by phone or at seth.stropp@southwilliamsport.net.
God Bless America.
