The words of Mr. Bush on today, our day.

Every veteran has lived by a strict code of discipline. Every veteran understands the meaning of personal accountability and loyalty and shared sacrifice. From the moment you repeated the oath to the day of your honorable discharge, your time belonged to America; your country came before all else. And whether you served abroad or at home, you have shared in the responsibility of maintaining the finest fighting force in the world.--George Bush

When you leave the service, you never quite ever put those years behind you. They help you define the rest of your days, remembered lessons, remembered Honor, remembered sacrifices. We swear an oath to protect and serve the Constitution of the United States,.................you are never released from that oath. Your service continues, only the form changes.

I have to work today, I'm tired, the kids were sick all night, and there is no rest until late tonight. A handful of prescriptions, always the damn pills, suck it up, and just do it.

Millions of veterans will join me, this is our day, but life goes on and the daily chores of husband and father continue. I will be thinking of the brethren today, of the sisters. Veterans are a kind of family, the only family for some. We remember and care for our own. We all swore the same oath, we all gave years of our lives, we all are marked now. Twentyfive million of us are so marked. Nearly every single one of us bears the mark with pride, pride and sorrow for those that weren't so lucky as to survive to be veterans. Only when those lost are mourned, by their families, by fellow veterans, by the nation, do we acknowledge the debt. It's one that can't be repaid, only Honored. Honored as it is on days like today.

Like some, I wear a veterans pin. It's a tiny thing, cheap brass and acrylic, and it has little value to anyone else. It was given to me by a friend, a man who now serves in Iraq, I hope to see him again someday but fate is rarely that kind. I hope he serves there without incident and returns to his family, his grandchildren. We are the same age, he's been in a long time. I offered to go in his duffel bag, and he laughed, then he told me not to worry, he'd be fine.

I still worry, and still feel shame that I can't go. Not because I love war, not because I love death, few actually could hate it more than I do. But that's where the need is, the need for someone to make a difference, to matter. The need for someone to look out and fuss and worry over our people. I mourn every loss, and cheer every homecoming. How could any of us do less and still look into the mirror in the morning............

Another day, another special day and life goes on. It's worth it though don't you think? I think it was and is, very much worth it.

God be with our men and women, today, and every other.