“Every gun that is fired, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. The world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists and the hopes of its children.”

—General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Wednesday, November 11 is Veterans’ Day. The editorial staff of the Daily News usually dedicates a day of this week to a different war, highlighting the struggles that each faced. This year we chose to focus solely on World War II veterans and others that helped with the war effort. Each year we lose more of these wonderful men and women who fought for the freedoms we have today.

We will introduce you to Army Sergeant James Runions, the most decorated soldier in Claiborne County. He celebrated his 85th birthday on Sunday. Would he do it all again?

Lifestyles Editor Donna Greene will share the story of her father, Charlie Greene, who just recently received the medals he earned 60 years ago in a touching ceremony at their family reunion.

You’ll read about Fred Woods, who many of you will recognize as a volunteer from the Bell County Historical Society Museum. How did the war affect him?

You’ll also read about Raymond Thomas of Ewing, Virginia, who met General Eisenhower and who was one of the honored guests at the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 29, 2004. This man is a living history book on the war that had the greatest human cost for freedom.

Finally, we take a look at how things were on the homefront for those left behind, yet still contributed to the war effort. Martha Jones, who worked in a defense plant in Muncie, Indiana, shares her story about the rationing of food, gas and supplies. Sacrifices were made that many of us cannot imagine in today’s world.

We are all guilty of forgetting what these and other veterans were and are fighting for. At home and abroad, they stand for freedom. They put their lives at risk and an unfathomable number gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life so that we could be free. Free to go to the church that we want to go to, free to vote for who we want to vote for and free to criticize the government if we choose to do so.

It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican. You might not agree with the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. No one likes war. You can believe that President Obama is the devil incarnate or the greatest thing since sliced bread. Because of a veteran, you are free to make those choices and voice those opinions. 

So thank one. If you know a veteran or an active-duty service member (or even if you don’t), tell them that you thank them for their sacrifices. Thank their wives or husbands or parents; thank their children. Let them know you have a deep and abiding gratitude for what they gave to the rest of us— a free country.

Tabitha Webb is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. Contact her via e-mail at twebb@middlesborodailynews.com.