Veterans Day 2025
Today is the day we honor all the many men and women who have served and are actively serving in our military.
There are approximately 16 to 17.5 million veterans in the United States, according to data from late 2023 and mid-2025
ActiveRain has members who have served. Most of us have had husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, and children who have honored us with their service.
Years ago, I shared a link to an article by Doc Bailey. What I read made me pause and reflect on my own words when I said “Thank you for your service” to someone who had served.
As of March 2025, there were approximately 1.32 million active-duty military personnel in the U.S.
What about the phrase we all say…Thank you for your service.
We all say it, and I know we mean it, but how do the recipients of that phrase feel about it? It’s like the “thank you” we say as a matter of course, as if it’s tossed out.
I read an article that said while they appreciate the gratitude, it can feel awkward to receive it. Instead, many would prefer that you show appreciation by voting and staying informed about what’s going on locally and globally.
Or, if you know someone who has served or is serving, ask them about it. Ask what they did and what it was like or where they were stationed.
Keep in mind that some may not speak of their service, for whatever reason. From my own experience, I didn’t learn that Larry flew nuclear alerts until he and our friend, Vic, who also served, were sharing stories. Can you imagine a 25-year-old knowing that if it were the “real thing” and you were carrying that bomb, you were not coming back?
As we honor Veterans Day, let’s pause to remember the many sacrifices made by those who serve—and by the families who share in those sacrifices. Their strength and love are part of what keeps our country strong.
The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.
Douglas MacArthur
A true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front
of him but because he loves what is behind him.
G.K. Chesterton
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