Today, our family joined thousands of others to pay respect to our military at the Welcome Home parade in downtown Colorado Springs.We saw babies, children, adults and seniors joining to support our soldiers, sailors and airmen. We saw a couple of war protestors, but they both carried signs supporting our troops and acted in a respectful manner.
The flyovers were awesome, but I was struck by two things: the diverse group of men and women who protect the freedoms we too often take for granted, and the occasional looks of pride I could detect on their almost stoic countenances when we cheered.
After the parade, we went to a restaurant for lunch. Soon, a man in uniform and his family were seated next to us. As the only gesture we could possibly offer in addition to thanking him for his service, we asked the hostess to use a 20% discount coupon we had for that family's bill without telling them who did it. We felt good about doing a small thing, and it didn't cost us anything.
What can you do to thank a serviceman or woman? Socks and beef jerky are popular for our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and you can mail a flat rate box overseas for only $11.95. You can write a letter with your child to a homesick sailor. You can take your dog to visit veterans in a nursing home (ask first, but our yellow Lab is a favorite in Walsenburg).
September 11 is approaching. Won't you please do something to show you haven't forgotten? While you're at it, let your public safety workers know you appreciate them, too.
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