As I sit here at my regular coffee shop, sipping a latte, looking out the window at a spectacle of traditional winter wonderland and contemplate my final Christmas gift purchases, it occurred to me how fortunate I am. My blessings are countless. However, among my greatest blessings is my freedom. This is a blessing to which I owe a great debt of gratitude to our heroes – the men and women of our armed forces.
Contrast our comfort and coziness this season to the dry, dusty, dirty conditions of the middle east. Think about how we enjoy thoughts of sugar plums dancing in our heads, while they are scanning the horizon for terrorists, improvised explosive devices and other threats. While we laugh and mingle with loved ones at holiday parties, they’re working long hours counting on their brother or sister soldier to protect their back.
As Austin Bay described the realities of this season on StrategyPage.com:
Even though I’d rather drink party punch and talk about football, each unique questioner deserves a thoughtful answer. At some sincere level, …(people are)… asking for a thoughtful opinion regarding the likelihood of life during a season proclaiming joy to the world weighed against the possibility of death at the hands of mass murders driven by a malignant religious zealotry.
Yes, we owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the men and women of our armed forces. I just took a moment to say thank you, via the USO’s website. I hope you will do the same. You can send a thank you email to our protectors of freedom at the link below. Feel free to copy or use a version of my own note.
USO Holiday Thank You
Please take a moment to say thank you to our military men and women:
http://action.uso.org/action/sem-thank-you-holiday
Sample Thank You Message
Below is the message I just sent. Please feel free to copy, modify or otherwise reuse this note:
Because I am not in your shoes, I know I will never fully appreciate the sacrifices you make for me, your family, your friends and your country every day. However, I am especially reflective of my gratitude this holiday season. I realize your sacrifice is made even greater during this time away from your loved ones.
It is because of your sacrifices that I am able to enjoy our freedoms. So with a great degree of sincerity and humility, I say simply, “thank you” for all you’ve done and continue to do for me, my family, my friends and our country.
Sincerely,
Benjamin S. Lichtenwalner
ModernServantLeader.com
Thank you, too, for taking the time to say thanks.
Question: Do you have a loved one in the military? What other ways do you suggest we show our appreciation this holiday season and throughout the year?
I was in the Navy many years ago but then the only thing close to a ship they let women serve on were the tug boats at Pearl, no combat. So hats off to you all and thank you for keeping us safe. Come home safely and soon.
-Maureen
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you ALL !
Thank you for all you do for our country and our freedom. Appreciate all you provide to us and your unselfish efforts for all of us to live a great life.
Have you seen the new book out for thanking our soldiers? http://www.silentheroesautographbook.com
To Whom It Would Be of Interest,
I wrote this song to thank Our ServiceMen and Women around the world
and would be honored if you choose to post it on this Patriotic Site.
I thank you and God Bless!
Beholding Beyond Words
Beholding Beyond Words To Our Servicemen And Women
Stationed Around The World In Far Away Places
There’s Not Much We Can Say To Thank Them Enough
For What They Go Thru Each Day In The Rough
But: Give Them Our Thanks
Give Them Our Love
Give Them Our Regards
For a Safe Return
We Praise and Raise Our Hands To You
That Earned the Honor That We Now Bestow
We Salute You For A Job Bravely Done
And Applaud Your Courage In The Face Of The Unknown
Defending Freedom
Defending Liberty
Defending Peace
At Home And Abroad
For The Past, Present, And Future Generations
Duty Will Always Be An Honorable Citation
To Stand The Ground That Freedom Upholds
To Endure Engagements Where Ever They Unfold
Defending Freedom
Defending Liberty
Defending Peace
At Home And Abroad
For Those MIA’S, POW’S,
Fallen Soldiers, Who Gave All They Could
We Will Search For As Long As It Takes
You Are Not Forgotten And Will Always Be
In Our Hearts
In Our Prayers
In Our Minds
For All Time
These Immortalized Soldiers Whose Bravery Abounds
They Are Sisters, Brothers Heroes Profound
They Enlisted For The Duty At Hand
To Serve The Cause Of Country And Land
They Serve With Honor
They Serve With Valor
They Serve With A Pride
That Will Change Them Forever
To Our Forces Standing Tall And Proud They Be
Our Country’s Behind Them In A Solemn Sea
So Let The Flags Of Freedom Fly
Unfurled In Their Majesty High
In The Sun
In The Rain
In The Wind
Across This Land
These Are The Things Our Country’s Made of
These Are The Things We Cherish And Love
So Let The Flags Of Freedom Fly
Unfurled In Their Majesty High
In The Sun
In The Rain
In The Winds
For All Time
Jerry Calow ( Copyright 2003 )
It really grinds on my nerves when I hear people complaining about their jobs and how they have to work on holidays. There are men and women fighting to keep you safe, be thankful for their work. I don’t know the pain and sacrifices you guys face, but my step dad was im the Army, and his stories are heart breaking. I appreciate the work you men and women put into this country, even though a lot of people disrespect you and the Military. THANK YOU SO MUCH! You guys ar kickass in my book:D
Thank you, Sarah, for your contribution. And many thanks to your step-father for his service as well.
As I sit in a hospital bed with an illness missing my four-year-old daughter I think about the military and how they miss their children for months at a time and then I think I’ll be okay
Thanks for sharing, Mark. I pray for your speedy recovery.
I would like to say Thank you to all the military soldiers, men. and women. Though I might not be in your shoes, There is never a day that goes by I think of you all , The families you left behind to fight for our freedom.. May God keep you safe until the return home to your love ones.
Admiral Rogers,
I would like to apologize for the disrespectful and unprofessional behavior you experienced during the senate hearing today. Our nation owns an individual with your reputation, level of service and magnitude of professionalism our gratitude and not the dishonorable badgering you experienced. The all too public display of disrespect and unprofessional behavior you witnessed first had is adding fuel to the fire behind the – If they’re in –They’re out in 2018!
Thank you so much, thank you all military.
My son is in the navy, joining after college. I am often asked how I allow it or handle it. I am so proud of him for taking the job to protect our country. He is my hero. I have a daughter who has taken a year off work to do mission work and travel the world teaching English with her church. My children has surpassed any dreams I have had for them. I could not be prouder. Of course I worry, but I worry about all our servicemen, firefighters, and police. They protect us for so little. They do it because they care about others. I wish all of them a safe journey.
Dear soldiers and first responders, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping our country safe. Everyday you guys go out and you risk your live so that we can be free. I also would like to salute you for your bravery and compassion. From my whole family we thank you for keeping our country safe❤️ I pray that you all make it home safely to your family and loved ones. My great grandparents and my grandparents served in the military and caught in WW2, unfortunately not all of them returned after the war. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of the soldiers that keep us free and safe. God bless America🇺🇸🇺🇸
I am so thankful for my country, its freedoms , and its people who help keep it free. To those who protect us thank you, I pray that God will keep you and your families safe, I pray that you will get to be home with them soon. I just wanted to say how proud we are as a Nation to have you standing at the door, watching, and ready to protect our home. I also want you to know there are so many people who know that freedom is not free, and that it has had it price. To those families that have lost loved ones, no words can ever ease or replace your loss. I hope you find peace and know that your loved one is America’s Hero’s.
sending a Christmas wish to our troops and wish they was at home this year.
I just want to say to the people that have fought for this country i just want to say that i am thankful for the things that you do to serve for this country and that if you are going to look at this i plan on being one of a million people that will fight for this amazing country and that i will be the person that will keep you going so again thank you for all the things that you have risked your life for this country.