This week is a special patriotic week for me as it is every year. November 10 is the birthday of the United States Marine Corps and this year it is their 246th birthday. As I’ve shared many times in Country Roads, my father went into the service during WWII. He signed up for the Navy and was later transferred to serve as a Marine medic corpsman. He was a true Marine and was proud of it. The Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing two battalions of Continental Marines on Nov. 10, 1775. Years later, my son would also serve in the Marine Corps.

Today, Thursday is observed as Veterans Day to thank and honor all who have served in the United States military. There will be parades, school programs, dinners and other programs giving honor in recognizing veterans. Many restaurants and other business are honoring the veterans with reduced prices or free specials. In some schools, the students prepare bulletin boards and programs and invite veterans from the communities to attend. My father and all the veterans who attended those events felt honored and recognized. I’m sure the veterans attending today feel the same way.

A few years ago, my farmer husband and I visited Gettysburg Civil War Battlefield. We saw and learned about this well documented place that, as most Civil War Battles did, took place across farming fields outside of the town. We thought of all those soldiers on both sides fighting for the cause they thought was right. Then we traveled on to Washington, D.C. and were able to visit many of the monuments that were placed there to honor U.S. veterans and service members of the wars the United States participated in. Seeing them brought tears and gave me even a more patriotic and proud feeling of this country than I had before. One couldn’t help but think of all the brave men and women who gave of themselves and answered the call of duty. Though we didn’t get to visit all 17 monuments and museums honoring the veterans and those who gave their lives, we did get to see a lot of them including U.S. Air Force Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial which also honors the Marine Corps, WWII Memorial, U.S. Grant Memorial, Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial and the District of Columbia War Memorial. We also saw many more memorials and statues that gave patriotic honor.

We should honor and thank the veterans all year but it is especially important on Veterans Day. Whether they fought in battles, drove trucks or flew planes delivering supplies, flew the helicopters transporting the wounded, provided food for the soldiers, or sat behind the desk in a military office, they all did their duty for this country, The Land of the Free because of the Brave!