[Above are what look like newspaper clippings reading "Veterans Day-A Day of Remembrance" and "Honoring Our Fallen"]

Thoughts from the Heart:

Even though more than 3.1 million Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice in wars defending the United States, too many people still think of "Veterans Day" as the extension of a long weekend. It's more than that. Veterans Day, it's a time for families to remember and honor those lost to "WAR". Veterans Day, it is one day for us to remember all of those who have fallen in service of this great nation. Yet today as we are distracted by our cell phones, 24 hour breaking news, and a seemingly endless stream of information, our question is - Have we forgotten to remember??? On - the 11th day and 11th hour of November, the parades will stop and the bugler will play Taps in honor and memory of the fallen who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. "Veterans Day" is about American patriot Patrick Henry who said: "It can not be emphasized too strongly or often that this great nation was not founded by the religionist but by Christians, not on religion but on the freedom to worship all faiths."

And let us remember that General George Washington led his troops in prayer before they crossed the Delaware River on a cold snowy night to surprise the British and Hessian troops on December 26, 1776. They gained a great victory in the worst of conditions.

Let us remember that Andrew Jackson and a ragtag army who defeated the British at New Orleans in 1815. A young officer named Wade Hampton of South Carolina rode 750 miles in ten days to Columbia, South Carolina, and then to Washington D.C. to tell President Madison and the country of the great victory.

We shall never forget March, 1836, when a small band of men at the Alamo stood between Santa Anna's 5,000 man army and the small unprepared army of Sam Houston.

In the lonely monastery were Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and less than 200 men - just three days before Santa Anna's final assault, these men came into the Alamo, knowing they might die.

On their last night on Earth they prayed that their battle would, somehow, lead to victory even though they might die. Their prayer was answered. A few days later at San Jacinto, Houston defeated Santa Anna with the battle cry of "Remember - the - Alamo!"

Let us remember 1861 when our nation became two nations. The South under President Jefferson Davis and the North under President Abraham Lincoln fought for four long, bloody years to decide this nation future. The War Between the States also known as the "Civil War".

Let us remember that in 1896 the American warship Maine blew up in Havana harbor - with over 500 dead. The Spanish-American War brought Teddy Roosevelt's Roughriders to Cuba to charge up San Juan Hill to victory.

Let us remember in November 1918 when World War I ended on the 11th day of the 11th hour of the 11th month and the United States Congress proclaimed "Armistice Day" a year later on November 11, 1919.

Let us remember Sunday December 7, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor - with fear across this nation - President Franklin D. Roosevelt words - "We have nothing to fear - but fear itself."

Since that time there has been Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq. We cannot forget that we were attack again on 9-1-2001.

In 1954, the United States Congress passed HR Bill 1786 and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it, changing "Armistice Day" to "VETERANS DAY".

We must remember those who served our nation!! To forget is dishonor...

Joe Smith - ret. U.S. Army

"Dying for one's country is not the worst thing that can happen. Being forgotten is."