Remember those who sacrificed

Next Monday, America will pause to say thanks to the tens of thousands of our fellow citizens who have sacrificed to protect our nation.
As we observe Memorial Day, there will be services at several area cemeteries, at parks or at the headquarters of various military veteran groups.
We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude that is all but impossible to repay. They put themselves on the front lines for us. They answered the call when others didn't. They live with the grisly memories that often haunt those who have experienced the horrors of war. They gave up several months or years of their lives to make our lives safer.
And though we can't exactly repay that debt, we can give those veterans the respect that they're due.
Here in Vandalia, the Crawford-Hale American Legion Post 95 will put out its Avenue of Flags on Monday, weather permitting. (They could use your help that morning and that afternoon.) It also will host a Memorial Day program at 11 a.m., featuring Vietnam veteran Tony Flowers, as well as Marion Mayfield, who is currently serving in the U.S. Navy.
At Brownstown, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9770 will hold a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday at the Veterans' Memorial Wall in Brownstown's Central Park.
And at St. Elmo, a Memorial Day service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday. It will include a 21-gun salute, a musical tribute and a speech by Lyndon Willms.
A different kind of tribute will be made by participants in the local leg of the national Walk Across America program. Locally, walkers will walk from the Vandalia Statehouse to the American Legion Home, starting at 1 p.m. Monday.
Whatever you do on Monday to observe Memorial Day, find a way to say thanks to a veteran. They richly deserve it, and we don't say it nearly enough.  
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