Veterans deserve our appreciation

"We don't want to be heroes, but it's nice to know people appreciate what we did," Vietnam veteran Fred Wilhelm said as he shared poignant memories of his first trip to the Vietnam Memorial.

Wilhelm, like many who have served, does not want the spotlight - but hopes to prompt people to remember veterans this Veterans Day.

At a time when so many of our young men and women are on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, a time when too many come home in caskets, we are certainly more aware of the sacrifices our veterans make to keep us safe. But have we told those who've served just how much we appreciate what they have done? Are we giving them adequate health care? Are we truly thanking those who, literally, go to the wall for us?

Today is Veterans Day, a day first designed to celebrate the end of a war evolving to honor all who have served. Among us are 23.8 million veterans spanning multiple generations and wars.

Wilhelm is one of 7.9 million surviving Vietnam-era veterans. Charlie May, of Huntley, and Jack Miller, of Bartlett, are among 2.5 million surviving World War II veterans. Their group is dying at the rate of 900 veterans a day, the Veterans Affairs estimates. That daily toll makes their journeys to the World War II Memorial all the more poignant. Geneva High School student Meagan Holbrook is among those determined to help make sure those World War II veterans get a chance to see "their" memorial before it's too late. She put together a special Veterans Day chili supper at Geneva High School from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today. Your $10 donation will help fund more Honor Flights to ensure these veterans can make the journey in time. It is just one of the special events today to honor those among us who have served in the most difficult of times.

Many of us are still buzzing about the electricity of a historic election capped with President-elect Barack Obama's "Yes, we can." We can because so many brave men and women sacrificed lives, time with families and careers in order to serve no matter what the battle or who the president.

For some families, the toll can be tortuous. Just ask the loved ones of Jonathan Collins, a Crystal Lake soldier who died in Iraq in 2004, Leonard J. "Lenny" Gulczynski, of Carol Stream, who died in Iraq in September, or Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Grieco of Winfield, whose family buried him last week after he was killed in Afghanistan. For a Jeremiah Homuth, a young soldier from Huntley who suffered life-altering injuries in battle, the toll is lasting.

If you think the toll ends after these soldiers return home, take a moment to view our video of Fred Wilhelm's recollections of his visit to the Wall. It is not easy to watch, nor was it easy for the quiet veteran to share with us. We thank him for giving us insight to the lasting impact of war.

And we thank all who served, all who put their lives on the line to protect our country, keep us safe and preserve our freedom. You deserve far more than we can possibly express in a single day of honor. Thank you.