Today is Veterans Day and one of the best ways a country can honor its citizens is through its war veterans.

Those men and women, who sacrificed so much to keep our country free, should be remembered. Whatever state our country is in, we should remember how important it is to teach our students that Veterans Day means more than just a day off from school. We need to teach our children the importance of honoring those who fought to keep our liberty.

In 2004, the Alabama Legislature enacted a law for those service men and women who served in World War II and Korea to receive their high school diplomas if they had joined or had been drafted during those two wars. Several veterans over the years have been awarded diplomas at local high school graduations, and this is a good way to honor those who sacrificed their diploma to defend our country.

Last year on Oct. 27, Gov. Bob Riley honored 122 service members from Alabama who were killed in the “War on Terror” and in his speech thanked the family members and recalled the sacrifices made by these heroes. He also said: “To a large extent, what they did was sacrifice all of their hopes and all of their aspirations and all of their dreams so we can have ours. Let us vow that for as long as God gives life to this nation and to each one of us, their heroism, their courage and their noble sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

In another story, a 70-year-old Navy veteran living in Oregon, got into a flag waving dispute with the apartment complex where he lived. The apartment complex did not want him displaying his American flag on a wall outside his apartment as he had done every year for past Veterans Days and other holidays or, officials warned him, he would be evicted. After the media reported this story, there were a lot of people asking the apartment complex officials why they would not let Mr. Edward Zivica post his flag. A solution was reached that was agreeable to everyone, and now he can display his flag without fear of eviction. There should never be a reason to not fly the flag in remembrance of our war veterans.

Many areas all over the country are sponsoring celebrations for Veterans Day and Baldwin County is included. At the Daphne City Hall there will be a 10 a.m. ceremony to honor those military veterans living in our area.

So on this Veterans Day, let us promise ourselves to always remember those who gave of their lives that we can be free. Let us take this vow, as Governor Riley spoke, to never forget those courageous, noble servants who sacrificed and served our country well.

Contact Steimle at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com, www.stregthenyourhome.com or read her blog at www.valeriesteimle.blogspot.com.