AMERICA THANKS VETERANS FOR DEFENDING FREEDOM

Individuals across America are taking pause today to honor those brave souls who have answered the call of duty and served their country.

What began as Armistice Day marking the end of World War I 91 years ago today has now become a day to honor American veterans of wars past and present.

Leaders in South Carolina have marked the day by offering their own expressions of gratitude.

“Today, we reflect on the enormous sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Armed forces,” said Attorney General Henry McMaster. “For more than two centuries, they have answered the call to service, defeating dictators and toppling tyrants, to preserve our freedom and way of life. These brave men and women deserve our gratitude not just on Veterans Day but everyday.”

“Thanking our veterans for their courage and sacrifice is something that transcends our differences and unites us all as Americans,” SCGOP Chairman Karen Floyd said. “Our freedom to have open debate and discourse, along with the freedom to change our government as we see fit was created and continues to be secured by our nation’s soldiers. The South Carolina Republican Party joins our state and nation in thanking our veterans this day for their heroism.”

“We owe our veterans and soldiers serving overseas the highest level of respect and gratitude for their sacrifices,” said Congressman Joe Wilson. “This Veterans Day, I hope you will take a few moments to thank those who are serving and who have served our country in the armed forces.”

“Our Veterans fought for freedom – they fought for opportunity and they fought so that future generations of Americans could continue to live in the land of the free,” said Rep. Rex Rice (R-Pickens).

“Today is a day of gratitude and unity in our country – gratitude for the bravery of our men and women in uniform, and unity in honoring the sacrifices they have made to keep us safe,” said gubernatorial candidate Dwight Drake. “It is also a time to remember the responsibilities we have as a nation to support them, both on the field of battle and when they return home.”

But perhaps President Franklin Roosevelt best expressed the need for Veterans Day when, in November 1941, just a month before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he gave a particularly poignant speech at Arlington National Cemetery that would forever reverberate through history.

Roosevelt recalled Sergeant York of Tennessee, who was asked by those against U.S. involvement in World War I, “What did it get you?”

“Today we know the answer-all of us. All who search their hearts in honesty and candor know it,” Roosevelt said. “We know that these men died to save their country from a terrible danger of that day. We know, because we face that danger once again on this day.”

As it was in 1941, America faces that danger. And our service men and women are now, as they always been have, the most vital line of defense against that danger. And, at the very least, we owe them a tremendous “thank you” for that.

Photo: US soldiers observe a moment of silence at a ‘Veterans Day’ ceremony at Camp Eggers in Kabul, 11/11/09 (Getty Images).