Celebrate heroes who protected, defended

' I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Those who have had the honor to speak these words and to take this oath belong to a special patriotic fellowship. It is an oath of service that bonds them with the veterans of our past wars and with those who will serve in conflicts to come. Their love of our country is above reproach, and their valor is unquestioned. They serve this great nation in times of peace and war. They have done so for more than 200 years. They are American veterans.

On Nov. 11 we honor more than 25 million living American veterans who have taken this oath of service to protect and defend this great country from the evils of tyranny and injustice.

This Veterans Day, please reflect on the contributions of America's veterans. They are America's heroes, bound together throughout eternity by the oath of service they have taken and by their devotion to God and country.

We celebrate the fact that they willingly sacrifice that others may be free.

Leo Surak South River