As we know this Saturday we celebrated Veterans Day. At this time, we give thanks in a special way for the many freedoms we enjoy as Americans. As we reflect on these freedoms, we should also remember our men and women who served in the military and who sacrificed so much to make these freedoms possible thorough their dedicated commitment to our country. Many of our Veterans are family members or friends or fellow parishioners. Whether our Veterans served at home or abroad, we should not allow their service to be ignored or minimized, or their sacrifice taken for granted.

We should also be grateful for our military chaplains who are Veterans and who have faithfully served the spiritual needs of our men and women in the armed forces, and also served the spiritual needs of their families. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reminds us that “five military chaplains, all of them Catholic, have received the Medal of Honor since the Civil War. Two of them are on the path to sainthood as their stories of bravery have touched people the world over. Their example inspires a new generation of men to be chaplains as well. Four Catholic military chaplains have also been recognized for bravery in the line of duty with United States Navy ships named in their honor.”

The following excerpt from a “PRAYER FOR VETERANS” provided by “SIMPLE CATHOLIC LIVING” reflects our concern for our Veterans:

As we reflect on this prayer, and as we reflect on the many sacrifices our Veterans have made for us, we should assure our Veterans of our gratitude and prayers. We can also reaffirm our intention to honor, respect, and appreciate their commitment and sacrifice.