They are the people who sacrificed their lives to keep us free. They served to maintain our freedoms as well. We are 26 million Americans living today who wear the uniform, and we are the 1 million who died for our freedom. Veterans Day is a day to celebrate peace as well as remember the men and women who fought for it, guest speaker Thomas Stern, Wood County veterans service officer, said at Wisconsin Rapids. That idea, of course, is freedom.
Freedom is never free.
Thanking the 25 million veterans in this country who are living is as important as honoring the millions who gave their lives, Stern said. It is important to remember those who lost their lives while serving in peacetime as well as those who were killed in war, state Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, said at the ceremony in Wisconsin Rapids. Those who seek military careers during times of peace need special recognition, Schneider said. They are an affirmation of American commitment to freedom and democracy. I hope many of you, like me, who are not veterans, will take the time to thank at least one of the veterans after this ceremony.