We owe our veterans thanks year-round
They head out, heads high, eyes bright, determined to do us proud.
They miss birthdays, anniversaries, first steps, sometimes even last days with loved ones. Some pull tiresome duty, patrolling desolate spots in the humid heat or blistering chill, hour after hour.
Others are in the thick of battle, bullets whizzing past, shrapnel searing permanent reminders of the fight for freedom for us or our allies. When they come home, it's usually to a quiet welcome. A few get parades, most do not.
But something happens after we ask our young men and women to serve this country. Somehow we forget what they've given us and we relegate them to less than they deserve.
A recent report reveals one in four of our homeless was once a veteran. Even though veterans make up only 11 percent of our adult population, they account for 25 percent of those without homes.
How do we let that happen?
Make it different
Some of our local folks who help veterans are certainly aware of the issue. Kathy Chwedyk of National Association of Systems Administrators Education Corp. in Crystal Lake, which just sponsored a Stand Down for veterans at Camp Algonquin, said they served 110 veterans, most from McHenry, Kane and Lake counties and some from Cook.
NASA Education helped link the vets with housing, jobs, training, clothing and a bit of respite. Plenty more help is out there. You veterans can call Kathy directly at (815) 455-5190 and can find more info at nasaeducation.org.
The aim, as NASA Education Executive Director John Blanchard notes, is to remove "the barriers that keep our nation's heroes from enjoying the benefits of American life they gave so much to secure for all of us."
That's for sure.
Special salute
Perhaps you'd like to tip your hat to some of our many veterans at one of several special Veterans Day events.
Dundee Township Park District Senior Center Director Mary Stallings invites you all to stop by the Senior Center at 11:30 a.m. Monday for its veterans tribute. Dundee Middle School students will join in a sing-along, West Dundee VFW Post 2298 will hold a flag ceremony and World War II veteran Jack Van Acker will share his experiences.
Honor a vet
McHenry County College folks invite us also to attend their Veterans Day Recognition ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Monday, featuring keynote speaker Major Frank Bart of Wauconda, the McHenry High School band and choral ensemble, a color guard presentation and bagpipes.
If you see a veteran today or, really, any day, say "thanks." They are a special breed indeed. And they deserve a lot better than finding one in four homeless, don't they?
Where there's smoke
It's a week after our annual reminder: Did you remember to change your battery in your smoke alarm?
In fact, do you have a smoke alarm?
Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Lt. Kirk Kiermas and Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Firefighter Kim Matz remind us to take a moment for what could be a life-saving task.
As Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Chief Steven Guetschow says, most house fires happen between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when families are sleeping.
"Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra second they need to get out safely," he said.
Don't forget to also test those smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, OK?