VETERANS: The times are changing

To the restaurants and businesses that reached out to us veterans on Veterans Day, thank you for showing your appreciation.

After our involvement in Vietnam, it has not been very popular to identify oneself with having been associated with military service. More recently, however, this stigma has changed and the pride of military service has once again resurfaced in this country.

Possibly, with the events in Iraq and Afghanistan, the American people are beginning to see some of the freedom that America enjoys, and what our armed forces are all about when we reach out to help other countries that do not have the same.

I'm sure that I speak for many veterans when I say that we appreciate your gift to us. Although it may not have always been enjoyable to be military, it has always been an honor.

Thank You.

PATRICK NEAL

USN Retired

Hayden