Thank You, Veterans!

Today, Veterans are thinking of their brothers and sisters. Not the ones that share the same mother, but the ones that share the same heart – the heart of a warrior. We are also thinking of the days gone by – those days we were miserable, yet now look back on with fondness. And of course, we think of those no longer with us – the ones that have stepped over to the other side.

This week we will receive genuine heartfelt thanks from many. The ‘Thank You’ is nice, but we seek more to be understood. But to truly understand a warrior, you must have been there. And so, Veterans will continue to look to each other for the understanding and fellowship – kindred hearts drawn to each other, regardless of branch of service, or number of years spent in uniform, or the country we were deployed to.

Thank you to all who went before and served in every clime and place to advance the cause of freedom and liberty for our nation. To think of the hundreds and thousands of Veterans that served on so many battlefields, with little food, poor equipment, and virtually no medical care – it is astounding. It makes my own time in the Marine Corps seem like a walk in the park.

Keep in mind as you go out today, and every day, that Veterans don’t think like you do. It is this different mentality that got us to serve in the first place, and after what we have seen and been through, we will always be a bit different. Thank a Veteran and let them know you appreciate them for being brave enough to step up to the plate.

To all those with a dusty pair of boots in the back of the closet, or a pair of dog tags hanging on your bedroom wall, we salute you. For those that wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares, and those who get flashbacks from a specific sound or smell, we honor you. For those who stand a bit straighter when they see the flag wave, and for those who love their country more than life itself, we thank you. Happy Veterans Day.

Eric C. Johnson served in the United States Marine Corps from 2004 to 2010, including one combat tour in Iraq. Eric was trained as an 0331 (Machine Gunner).