May 21, 2011, a Saturday is a day that most of us don’t give a whole lot of thought to. Maybe we’re busy preparing for graduation, or perhaps spending all of our money, because someone has told us that the end of the world or Rapture is happening tonight. Maybe we’re getting together with friends and barbecuing or perhaps planning our summer vacation. We’re going about our typical weekend routine, but, have you ever stopped to think about why you’re able to go about your normal, everyday routine. Have you ever thought about why that’s possible? I know that I have and probably the majority of the people who read this blog have and do.

Today, May 21, 2011 is Armed Forces Day. It’s a day, set aside in the month of May, which by the way is Military Appreciation Month, to honor and thank those who serve this country in the Armed Forces. It’s a day to honor and pay respect to those who’ve dedicated their lives in selfless service to our country, often at the cost of their lives. While our Troops don’t consider what they’re doing anything special, their service and sacrifices that are made every day for us, is why we’re able to carry on with our daily routines, why we’re able to speak our mind about the current state of our government, why we’re able to have a voice in choosing this country’s leaders. The service and sacrifice of these men and women, as well as the men and women who’ve gone before them, is a precious gift that they’ve given us … given to people they don’t even know. Why do they do this, you might ask. They do so, because they love this country, they love what the United States of America stands for, and they believe in the words in that great document called The Constitution of the United States of America. They fight to ensure that you and I never lose those freedoms. So it’s only fitting, that we take just a bit of time, at least once a year to think about what they do, day in and day out for you and I. It’s only fitting to pay tribute to these men and women, many who are far away from home, fighting on foreign soil to share the wonderful gift of freedom with people in other lands and to ensure that those who mean harm to our country and it’s citizens, are stopped.

So today, I ask one simple thing of you all. Take a moment to reflect about what the members of our Armed Forces are doing for us. If you know someone who is serving in our country’s Armed Forces, give them a call and tell them ‘Thanks for what you do for our country.” As you go about your daily business and you spot a Soldier, go up to them, shake their hand and let them know how much you appreciate them and the job that they’re doing. Let them know that you appreciate them. I know I do.