Celebrating Veterans Day

“Thanksgiving is a day when we pause to give thanks for the things we have. Veterans Day is a day when we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have.”  – Unknown

For a lot of us today in our busy lives, it is easy to take things for granted. We live in a world that is built on instant gratification whether it is texting our friends, waiting in line at the local coffee house or streaming your favorite TV show. Through all of this, we can sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture. Veterans Day is a time when we are reminded again of that bigger picture and also reminded of the sacrifices that many have made before us to help make our lives today so much easier.

When I think of Veterans Day, I first think of my grandfather, Victor Dean. A photo of him is above. He is the soldier on the right of the jeep. He served in the US Army during World War II and managed radio operations across Germany. As did many in his generation, he proudly served and defended his country and our allies when duty called. They left their homes and their families for battlefields across the globe because their country needed them. That is the true definition of bravery.Fortunately, my grandfather survived and eventually came home from the war in Europe. Like many who served, he did not often talk about his experiences in the war. I’m sure he did not want to relive the horrors of what he saw. I also think that his mindset was that he was just doing his job as an American and didn’t want any special treatment or recognition.A few years after my grandfather came home from the war, my father, Ronald was born. He eventually followed in his dad’s footsteps and served in the Army Reserves right out of high school. He too felt the need to serve his country.So each year on Veterans Day, I think first of my grandfather, my father and of the sacrifices that they made for their country. I am very proud to be a part of their family.However, there are millions of other Veterans that we also need to salute on this day. Each of us probably knows someone – either a family member or a friend – that has served in the military. They all deserve our gratitude and thanks. They chose to put themselves in harm’s way in defense of our country and freedoms. Sadly, many of them made the ultimate sacrifice and did not return home. We should remember and honor all of these brave men and women. 

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  — John F. Kennedy

 FTD proudly salutes all those serving and those who have served the United States on this Veterans Day. FTD is very pleased to support the USO and its mission of lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families. To learn more about the USO and to make a donation, please visit www.uso.org.