A message from Jake...

I had the distinct honor of serving as the keynote speaker for the Bradenton Kiwanis Club as they celebrated Veterans Day. When my good friend, Retired Fire Chief Ed Cleveland, asked me to speak, I immediately said yes and began thinking about the military stories I’d regale my audience with. 

I could talk about my combat deployments, survival school, my mid-air entanglement on a nighttime combat equipment jump, the time my LT put gasoline in our diesel truck, rolled the Humvee, or blew up a can of ravioli in his face heating it up over an open flame without venting the can (in case you are wondering, yes, this was all the same LT.) 

But as I reflected on my remarks, I realized I was off. Veterans day is not about honoring the service of any one veteran. It is about all of us, regardless of military service, rank, occupational specialty or time served. And because I expected there would be more non-veterans in the Kiwanis audience than veterans, I decided to share my thoughts on what it truly means to be a veteran.

I’m recently retired from the Air Force and in preparing these remarks, I came to understand something I had never fully grasped before. The United States flag, our National Anthem, and the title of Veteran mean more to me now than they did when I was wearing the uniform. The reason is simple. I now fully understand the true price paid for each of them.

Honoring Service: My Veterans Day Thoughts

Veterans Day is often seen as a day of gratitude, and it certainly is. But it is also a day of reflection. A day to consider what it truly means to be a veteran. Being a veteran is not simply about having served in uniform. It is not a line on a resume or a title earned the moment discharge papers are signed.

Being a veteran is something lived. It is something carried. It is something that remains long after the uniform is hung up and put away.

Being a veteran means understanding the weight of responsibility. At some point in their lives, every veteran raised their right hand and pledged to serve something greater than themselves. They accepted the reality that the freedoms enjoyed by Americans are not guaranteed. They must be protected. And veterans willingly stepped forward to provide that protection.

Being a veteran means embracing sacrifice. Not because it was sought, but because service requires it. Sacrifice looks different for every veteran: time away from loved ones, missed holidays, long deployments, and injuries both visible and invisible. The world may never fully understand the quiet costs borne by those who served or by the families who stood behind them. But every veteran knows those costs well.

Being a veteran means carrying memories that never fade. There are memories of long nights, early mornings, and demanding missions. There are memories of the faces of those who served beside us, and sometimes memories of those who did not make it home. Veterans carry their stories, their laughter, and their courage, ensuring they are never forgotten.

Being a veteran means connection. There is an unspoken bond among veterans across generations, conflicts, and branches of service. It is a shared understanding that we have walked through similar fire. Whether we come from different hometowns or different generations we are bound together by a common commitment to service, honor, and duty.

Being a veteran means living with purpose. Service does not end with a final salute. It becomes a compass that continues to guide veterans toward helping others, strengthening communities, and leading with integrity and courage. The mindset of putting mission before self does not disappear with the uniform.

And finally, being a veteran means gratitude. Not only receiving it, but carrying it. Gratitude for those who came before us, whose service lit the path. Gratitude for those who served beside us and shaped us. Gratitude for a nation that trusted us with its defense. And gratitude for every American who supported veterans and allowed them to serve.

Today is a day for the nation to say “thank you.” But for many veterans, it is also a day to quietly whisper our own thanks. Thanks for the moments that tested us, the people who lifted us, and the privilege of having worn the uniform of the United States of America.

To all veterans, thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, and your continued commitment to service long after your military duties end. And to the families, friends, and supporters who stand alongside them, thank you as well. No veteran stands alone.

God bless our veterans, their families, and the United States of America!