30 Days of Gratitude – Day 11:
Express gratitude to a veteran.

At the age of 15, I left home for a private Christian boarding school. That year, 1976, was our country’s bicentennial, and much was made over our liberty and the freedom we so greatly enjoy because of the sacrifice that many were willing to make to protect those valuable gifts. Perhaps it was part of my leaving-home and maturing process, but it finally struck a personal chord with me on Veteran’s Day that fall that my father was one of those who had willingly and honorably served our country in the military. I called to thank him for his service, and I continued to call him or thank him in person on November 11 every year thereafter for the next thirty-eight years. This is the first year since 1976 that I won’t have that privilege. 

Maybe that’s why today’s gratitude focus is so important to me. “Sacrificing” a moment to express a word of thanks to those who were willing to sacrifice their time and skills and who would have even given their lives to protect our liberty and freedom is imperative.

That honor-worthy veteran might not be here for you to thank next year.   

Take time today to call, e-mail, send a card to, or buy a gift for the veteran you chose to honor with your gratitude.

My Dad - Ben Strohbehn
WWII - Army Air Corps
Korea - US Air Force (Navigator, B-29)