To the Editor:
Monday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. Many people get it confused with Memorial Day in the month of May which honors American war dead. More than a million men and women died to protect our nation and the democratic freedoms we enjoy today. One of the freedoms we look forward to exercising is voting on November 3, 2020 for president. “Brave veterans sacrificed their vote so, you could have yours!”
Veterans Day honors those who served in the military and are living. It’s a high calling to have served in the American military especially in this time of all-volunteer military. They deserve our respect and admiration which they receive in East Tennessee. They deserve to be thanked when you meet one. Many restaurants in East Tennessee thank military veterans and active duty by giving them free food on Veterans Day. Applebee’s, Golden Corral, Little Caesars, Pizza Inn and others did it last year. Lowes gives 10 percent off every day to veterans. Those serving in military come away with disciple and leadership qualities that only come from military service making them highly desirable for all employers. Most of the best policemen, firemen, teachers and government leaders have served in the military.
The Bible has helped and comforted military members since the time of George Washington. The daughter of a British World War I veteran says a bullet-scarred pocket Bible saved her father’s life. The Bible says in these last days evil and dangerous times would come (2 Timothy 3). So the military and police are needed more than ever. The military and police are serving God by restraining evil and providing justice, law and order. (Romans 13:4) The least we can do is thank, respect and pray for them. Thank you military veterans and active duty. And, yes I’m proud to be a veteran.
The Bible in John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” It takes love and courage to be willing to lay down your life for friends, family and country. I like the bumper sticker that said, “Get behind our military or get in front of it.” I really like the bumper sticker that said, “Only two defining forces ever died for you. The military veteran for your life and Jesus for your soul!”

D.D. Nave, Major, USAFR(I)
Elizabethton