The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

I grew up respecting Veterans Day; my father was a vet. But it wasn't until my daughter, Serena, and her husband, Kody, were home did I fully understand the depth of the day. I remember my father tearing up every time the national anthem was played, and he insisted on flying the flag daily.

I thought I would visit with a few because I knew whether the vets could tell me or not was important. I wanted to allow them to express themselves. Most of them probably would have liked a little more time to think. But overall, they were proud to serve our country. They recognized it was because of their...