Thank You

 Dear Veterans:

I would just like to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you to the men who died for our freedom from tyranny in the Revolutionary War. Thank you to those of you who died protecting the United States of America in the Civil War. Thank you even more to those of you who fought in WWI and WWII. I've met some of you and am proud that I have. Thank you to those of you who fought in Viet Nam, Grenada, The Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and all the other skirmishes that have never been recognized.

Thank you to each and every one of you who have ever volunteered to defend our country whether you were in a war or not. Thank you for offering your very life so my family and I can go to sleep at night knowing the bravest, most selfless, determined, resourceful, people in the world are standing guard against those that would do us harm. 

Thank you to those of you who represented our country well in foreign lands. Thank you to each of you who were not only willing to die for your country, but who were also willing to smile at a foreign child. To those of you who offered to help a woman in a far away place carry her bags I say thank you. For anyone who offered assistance to any person who needed it whether American or not; thank you.

I would also like to take a moment to thank those of you who were ever held prisoner during wartime. We will never know what you endured, but we should all know enough to offer our undying gratitude. I hope you hear this not only on Veteran's Day, but every day.

I would also like to thank those of you who came home wounded. Some of you will never walk again, some of you will never see again, but to all of you I offer my thanks. It will not make up for your injuries, nor is it meant to, but thank you so very much for all you have given to the rest of us.

Lastly I would like to thank my father who served in Viet Nam. He is gone now, passed away too soon, but I like to think that he will see me typing this and be proud. Not because I am writing a word of thanks to people who deserve it, but because of the man I have grown to be. I'll never know how our relationship would have turned out as he died when I was a boy, but I like to think not only would he be proud of me he would want to be my friend. 

To my father, and to every other man and woman, who has ever worn the uniform of a branch of the armed services I say thank you. My family says thank you. God Bless you all.

Sincerely, 

Jerry Kelly