In Vermont and across this great country we enjoy freedoms that others simply dream of. What we stand for brings legal immigrants to our shores and causes others to accept inconceivable dangers to cross our borders illegally. It is fitting that on Veterans Day that we take a moment to thank every person who has worn a uniform in defense of our country and in support of our freedoms. Without these folks willing to serve, our state and our country would be a very different place.

“Anyone who wants to go to war has not experienced it,” my uncle, a WWII veteran of D-Day, would say as I was growing up. That’s about all he would say about his service. The medals that he won…. we found out about those after his death. Those same sentiments were echoed by my father, a disabled veteran of that same era. Today, we have men and women fighting in the Middle East. standing guard on the borders of other hot spots across the globe, and still others serving proudly in our state in the National Guard and Reserve.

The Chamber recently lost a member or two because we support outfitting the Vermont National Guard with the newest planes and technology. While it is hard to lose members for any reason, I guess to lose a few in support of folks willing to stand watch on the walls of freedom until there is really a ‘war to end all wars’ is a small price to pay.

Thank you, American soldiers.