Whatever our politics, whether we had a good election or a bad last week, that we had an election to get excited about at all is due in large part to the millions who have served in our nation's Armed Forces. We honor the 653,000 who have given their lives in defense of our country on Memorial Day. Today, Veteran's Day, is our day to honor the nearly 24 million who came home to us alive: our nation's Veterans.

For those, like me, who have not served, we can't know what it's like to surrender one's life to the vicissitudes of military service. We can't know what it means to put on that uniform every day, year in and year out, and see in the mirror a man or a woman who has sworn a sacred oath to protect our nation, its Constitution and its people, even to the laying down of one's life at a moment's notice. We can't know what it's like to be sent wherever one's needed, maybe into harm's way--and to not get to respond to that order with "why? what for? why me?" but rather to answer, time and again, "Yes, sir! Always ready, sir!"

Most of us don't spend a lot of time being thankful, publicly or otherwise, in this, the most rich and richly spoiled nation on Earth. We're too busy taking and consuming and throwing away. Well, give a little thanks today. No, more: give a little time, just a few seconds. Every one of us knows a Veteran, and with the God-forsaken wars in Iraq and Afghanistan we get to know more and more. Give a phone call, an email, a handshake. Really give your hand to a Veteran today, and look him or her in the eye and say, "Thank you for your life of service to me and the things I cherish." Make it personal for you, for just a few seconds, as it was and is personal to that Veteran every second of his or her service and beyond.

We owe our Veterans far more. We owe them love, and honor, and our own duty as faithfully executed as theirs. God knows we owe them peace. But this much at least we can actually give them: a few seconds, a handshake, and a word of thanks. To my Dad, and my Grandfather, and my uncles and cousins who have served and continue to serve when I cannot:

Thank You! I love you and honor you and your selfless service. Thank you for that service to me, and to the people and ideals I cherish. God bless you.