Tomorrow is Veterans Day. It is a national holiday, but it can be a holy day. It’s a holy day when we reflect on the many women and men who serve in the military and put their own lives in danger for the freedom we enjoy.

It’s a holy day when we stop our daily life routines to celebrate at a parade, pause our businesses and close our schools to show joy and respect for what our veterans have done for us and our nation, for the rights and freedoms that they have won and protected through all these years.

It’s a holy day when we remember and give thanks to God for our veterans who have returned safely from areas of conflict and war.

It’s a holy day when we stop and consider what government and military benefits our veterans who are returning from service find here at home and those who face barriers in receiving them.

It’s a holy day when we pray for those veterans who are homeless, disabled from combat wounds, carry the burden of memories, are affected by mental, emotional and spiritual agonies and are feel alone in their suffering.

It’s a holy day when we mourn our own thoughtlessness for forgetting to thank and be ever grateful to those veterans who have served our country yet feel unappreciated, lonely and forgotten.

To all veterans, tomorrow and every day, we say thank you for protecting and keeping our nation safe. We bless you, pray for you and pledge to never forget the sacrifices you have made for our country and for us.