Veteran's Day

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. Like most families in the United States, I have relatives who served this country.

My dad landed at Normandy on D-Day. He survived, but so many didn't. My dad injured his back in France when he carried a wounded friend for more than a mile. He saved his friend's life, but Dad had a painful reminder the rest of his life of that event.

My dad rarely spoke of his military service because the memories were so painful. He was in pitched battles, and he saw horrors in Europe. No matter how many times he tried to shove those memories into a dark corner of his mind, he was never successful. He was haunted by what he'd seen.

Men -- and now women -- who fight as soldiers are marked, one way or another, by their experience in war.

Texas Congressman Solomon Ortiz wrote: "From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when called, gone where ordered, and defended our nation with honor."

Takeaway Truth

To all veterans and active duty personnel: Thank you for your service and your sacrifices.