Honoring America’s Heroes: Our Veterans Deserve More Than Just Thanks

Guest Opinion by Perry Hooper, Jr.

Every November, Americans pause to honor the men and women who put everything on the line for our country. But gratitude should not be confined to one day on the calendar. Our veterans deserve recognition every single day, not only in words, but in deeds.

As President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on.” Those who wear the uniform embody that truth. They don’t just defend a flag; they defend a way of life that millions around the world can only dream of.

From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of Afghanistan, from the frozen battlefields of Korea to the jungles of Vietnam, American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen have written the greatest story of courage ever told. They are the reason the lights of liberty still shine brightly across this nation.

General Douglas MacArthur reminded us that, “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” It is a reminder that those who have seen the cost of freedom firsthand value peace most dearly yet stand ready to defend it at any cost.

Here in Alabama, our veterans are our neighbors, our co-workers, our family members, and our friends. They are leaders in business, education, and community service. Most continue serving long after they hang up their uniforms, mentoring young people, volunteering at local charities, and helping fellow veterans rebuild their lives.

Yet too often, our nation falls short in caring for those who have sacrificed so much. No veteran should wait months for a doctor’s appointment. No veteran should ever sleep on the street. And no veteran should ever feel forgotten by the country they served.

President Donald J. Trump said, “Our veterans have risked all for us, and now it is our duty to serve them as faithfully as they have served us.” He is absolutely right. From strengthening the VA to reforming care options and expanding mental health services, America must keep its promises.

The Bible tells us in John 15:13 (KJV): “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” No verse better captures the spirit of our veterans, men and women who answered the call knowing the risks, yet went anyway, driven by love of country and love of neighbor.

As we celebrate this Veterans Day, let us do more than wave flags and post thank-yous. Let us renew our commitment to building a nation worthy of their sacrifice, one where service is honored, patriotism is cherished, and liberty is defended by every generation.

So to all who have worn the uniform, to every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, and Coast Guardsman, thank you. You are the heartbeat of America. Your courage and sacrifice remind us that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and that the blessings of liberty endure only because of heroes like you.

God bless our veterans and God bless the United States of America!

Perry O. Hooper Jr. is a longtime Alabama Republican figure, former Alabama Legislator and Montgomery businessman. He served as Co-Chair of “Alabama Trump Victory” in 2016, and served as an at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention. He is a noted civic leader in Montgomery with deep family roots in Alabama’s legal and political history.

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