Honoring Veterans

We here at the Daily Yak would like to take the opportunity on this Veterans Day, to say a heartfelt "Thank you!" to everyone who has served, or currently serves, our country in the US Armed Forces. We honor the sacrifices you have made, the responsibilities you have shouldered and the duties you have performed in service to our country and the cause of freedom.

I would like to particularly thank my family and friends who are veterans:

My younger brother, an active duty US Army Captain and company commander. He has already served a tour of duty in Iraq and more than likely will be deployed again as the war continues. I know how seriously he takes his job, and how he cares for those soldiers under his command. I hope and pray that they all return safely from wherever duty calls them.

My father, a Polaris missile tech in the US Navy during the Cold War.

My father-in-law, a retired US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant.

My sisters-in-law. One a medical corpsman and Navy veteran, the other retired Air Force Captain.

Both of my grandfathers, members of the "Greatest Generation." One an Iowa farmboy who served in both the Army and Navy, the other an entrepreneur who left his business to become a flight instructor for what was then the US Army Air Forces during World War II.

My best friend from high school, who served as a US Army cavalry scout. Not only did he serve his country, but his letters and phone calls from Korea earned me a couple "A's" in college (his descriptions of Army life there being the inspiration for some of my papers).

And to all my other more distant relatives, friends and classmates who have served. Thank you!