America’s veterans deserve our thanks today, and every day throughout the year.

They deserve it for their willingness to serve this nation through military service. It’s not an easy job. Our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen sign away a part of their freedom and personal liberty for the discipline and regimentation of military service. They are subjected to strenuous physical training, extensive military training and long months away from home and family, all to protect and preserve the safety and security of their homeland.

And it doesn’t stop there. They are often called upon to protect friends and allies in other countries, to stand up against despotic regimes, to be a buffer in ethnic and cultural clashes in places where their very presence makes them a target.

We have seen our young men and women sent to places like Iraq and Afghanistan, for purposes that are often unclear, to accomplish goals that are nebulous and changing. We are seeing it again, with troops being sent back to Iraq to support Iraqi forces against the threat of ISIS. Even as advisors, they will be in danger.

Many of our veterans come home wounded in body and in spirit. Some come home in flag-draped coffins.

We owe them so much, so much that the education benefits and health care benfits the government does provide seems inadequate.

At the least, we owe our veterans a big thank you, today and every day.