To all those who have served, or are serving in the US Armed Forces, from a grateful citizen:

For putting yourself in harm’s way to protect our nation, I thank you.

For risking your own safety to uphold freedom throughout the world, I thank you.

For giving up your freedom to serve all of us, I thank you.

For separating yourself from friends and loved ones, I thank you.

For accomplishing the mission set before you day after day, I thank you.

For doing the things that must be done as a sacrifice for so many, I thank you.

For missing home-cooked meals, I thank you.

For giving up your comfort and security, I thank you.

For putting your life on hold to serve, I thank you.

For inspiring us to serve in our own ways, I thank you.

For your love of our country, I thank you.

For carrying on in the face of the dark things you have been through, I thank you.

For your sense of Honor and Duty, I thank you.

For doing a job that most of us will never truly understand, I thank you.

For all the times you wanted to be home but could not be, I thank you.

For everything you miss while you serve, I thank you.

For the long, lonely nights, I thank you.

For the bravery displayed by simply donning the uniform, I thank you.

For walking the walk, not just talking the talk, I thank you.

For hardship and loss, I thank you.

For all that you have done, are doing, and will do in service to our nation, I most sincerely and reverently thank you.