My family consists of multiple veterans. This means that growing up, it was drilled into my head to see them as heroes and have nothing but respect for these men and women. I watched my dad walk up to veterans and shake their hand while thanking them for their service. My dad would tell me about how he always wanted to enlist, but his dad, an army veteran, fought him on it. Grandpa wanted to protect my dad from everything that he survived during his enlistment.  

My uncle Jack Selbe was a marine, as were all of his brothers, and my biggest hero. I remember him talking about veterans being disrespected and how hard it was because they sacrificed so much for these people and they weren’t even grateful.  

By no means do I think veterans are ignored or never get the thanks they deserve. I have seen a lot of really amazing ways of saying thank you. In October of 2019, my hometown hosted a traveling tribute of fallen soldiers. This tribute is called Remembering our Fallen and I volunteered at it.  

I wanted to take the opportunity of a Veterans Day edition paper and my position to thank veterans. 

Veterans, we recognize this holiday, you, and what it means. It doesn’t have to just be this day either. We will never understand the weight or capacity of your sacrifice and service, but we do understand that you have made it. I will always try my best to shake your hand if I see you and thank you for giving up everything, so that I can have anything. I also want to thank your families and acknowledge them for what they lose too. I can’t imagine wishing my partner could be home for the holidays or watching our baby take their first steps or say their first words while their partner is overseas.

Thank you, veterans, for making the ultimate sacrifice.