Simple, Powerful Way to Celebrate Veterans in Western New York

As I was sitting in my car waiting to pick up the kids from school on Monday afternoon, Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” (better known as “Proud to Be an American”) started playing. It was one of those moments where the song came on at just the right time. With Veterans Day coming up, I had already been thinking about what it means to me and how I could truly show my appreciation to those who have done so much for this great country.

I have a brother who is a United States Marine, along with many friends and family members who have served in the U.S. military in one way or another. For decades, I’ve worked in radio here in Buffalo and have been part of countless events that support and celebrate the amazing men and women who serve. There are so many great organizations we can donate to or volunteer for, but I realized there’s something even more important that I’ve been missing all this time.

We live in the greatest nation on Earth...hands down. The freedoms we enjoy, the opportunities we have, and the resources available to us all come thanks to those who have fought for and protected our way of life. For those of us raising kids, one of the greatest ways we can show appreciation is by passing down an understanding of the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom.

A Heartfelt Thank You And Lesson From A Western New York Dad

As I sat there listening to that Lee Greenwood song, waiting for our three boys to come out of school, it hit me: as a father and as an American, one of the best ways to thank our veterans is to teach the next generation about respect and respect for our military, for those who serve, and for the freedoms we’re blessed to have every day.

This Veterans Day, I hope you take a moment to reflect and give thanks. To all who have served....THANK YOU. My family deeply appreciates the freedoms we enjoy because of your service. And to those with family members currently serving, we see your sacrifice and can’t thank you enough. Above all, I want my kids to grow up understanding the importance of gratitude and respect for our nation’s heroes.