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This month, rather than write about things going on in my life, I decided to write about something larger that has been on my mind lately.

November is upon us once again, and the holiday season is underway. Families across North Carolina are discussing where to have the Thanksgiving meal, children are beginning their letters to Santa, and everyone is excited about going to that awesome New Year’s party. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy all these holidays, but I believe there is one holiday that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves: Veterans Day.

First of all let me say that I love this great nation that I live in. There is no country like it in the world. No country offers the privileges, the freedoms and the rights that the United States offers. Not all countries allow for their citizens to elect their leaders. Not all countries allow for their citizens to bear more than one child. Heck, not all countries allow a 17-year-old boy to write a monthly article for a magazine with the freedom I have to speak my mind.

This nation holds great opportunities that no other nations possess, and the unfortunate thing is most American citizens take this for granted.

I am incredibly thankful that I live in a country that allows me to speak and believe what I feel. I am incredibly thankful that I live in a nation with a government that cannot dictate my life. I am incredibly thankful that I live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I hope you are thankful, too.

But as American citizens, whom should we actually thank for all this? The answer is simple: the veterans who stepped forward and stood tall when we needed their service. We owe our thanks to the men and women who have served, fought and died for this country. We owe our thanks to the men and women who have strived to defend the Constitution of the United States of America. We owe our thanks to the men and women who at this very moment are on native and foreign soil protecting us. We owe our thanks to any man or woman who has ever worn the uniform of this nation and to any man or woman who ever intends to wear that uniform.

One day is set aside every year to honor our veterans. Normally, a short assembly is planned at the schools in their honor. It is typical to see a newspaper write a short article about the veterans in the region, but I believe this is not enough. We set aside a day for them; they set aside their whole lives for us. I believe that as a nation we owe our veterans the respect and honor they deserve. I believe we should give thanks every day instead of just November 11.

Without our veterans, this country never would have become the country it is today. Where would this nation be had our servicemen and women not joined the fight during World War II? I am not an advocate for war. In fact, I believe war is unnecessary sometimes. But I do believe in supporting our troops regardless. They are not the ones who decided to fight. They are just the ones who decided to defend our nation. God bless our troops, God bless our veterans, and God bless the United States of America.

Jacob Brooks lives in Alleghany County. He is the national spokesman for the electric cooperatives’ Youth Leadership Council.

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