Col. Edward C. Rothstein
Each year on Nov. 11, we pause to honor the service and sacrifice that our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have made in serving our nation.
The holiday is simply known as Veterans Day.
Our veterans represent the best of America. Coming from every background and every walk of life, they represent the rich tapestry of our nation and earned our respect by their willingness to defend our way of life and the freedoms so many are able to take for granted.
Last week, Fort Meade celebrated Veterans Day in true “Team Meade” fashion. The observance started Nov. 8 at the Fort Meade Museum Plaza as my father Harold recalled his experiences growing up with veterans of World War I, how he attended school with men returning from World War II, and his personal experiences as a Soldier serving in the Korean War.
Rep. Donna F. Edwards also attended the observance and talked about her experiences growing up as the daughter of an Airman and her life as a military child.
She made a special effort to remind us that veterans’ service to our country doesn’t end when they leave the military. For many veterans, it is a way of life.
The congresswoman encouraged everyone to remember our veterans every day, not just on Veterans Day. Every day is an opportunity to honor them for their service to our country and their service to our local communities.
Friday morning, I was invited to speak about Veterans Day at Century High School in Sykesville. I was truly impressed by the students’ wealth of knowledge about veterans, past wars and the sacrifices that our service members make on their behalf to keep our country safe and to defend the Constitution of the United States.
There also was a ceremony Friday at the Defense Information School hosted by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski. The event honored two Army veterans who served in World War II and the Vietnam War. Both men received long overdue military honors as they were presented with the Bronze Star for their bravery and heroism.
Dr. Charles Rath Jr. is 93 years old. Charles Shyab is 68. Respectively, it took 65 and 45 years for each of these veterans to be honored for their meritorious service to our county.
As DINFOS Commandant Col. Jeremy Martin, who pinned the Bronze Star on each of these veterans put it: “They are American heroes and American treasures.”
We are thankful to Sen. Mikulski’s office for tracking down the documentation that made these awards possible.
To all of our veterans, I say “thank you” for your service. May you always be remembered on Veterans Day.
In addition to honoring veterans, the month of November is also designated as a time to honor and commemorate our military families.
Let’s remember that this is a monthlong celebration to honor the commitment and sacrifices made by families of our nation’s service members.
I especially want to honor the sacrifices of military children, who show courage and resilience as they move from base to base, school to school, and home to home. They are shining examples of patriots who enrich neighborhoods across America.
As we enter the holiday season, please take a moment to reflect on the people who have served, as well as those still serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. We should offer these service members and their families our sincere gratitude for their sacrifices.
We are a nation that is truly blessed by the courage and selfless service of our service members. Thanks for all you do to defend and protect our freedom.
Have a great week!
