As veterans day approaches and we prepare to remember those who have served our country in the armed forces, I fear that too much of our population - especially the under 20 crowd - have little appreciation for what the day really means. Nov. 11th was once known as Armistice Day, the day that fighting in the first World War (or Great War as it was known then) ended in 1918. It has since become a day to honor our military veterans.

Before I go any farther, please take the time to thank a veteran. You don't have to wait until Nov. 11th - you can thank them any day of the year. We live in a country where we can choose to throw away our right to vote and complain about elections anyway. By the way, the next time you do that, think of the soldiers who fought on battlefields in Europe and the Pacific islands. Many sacrificed their lives for what you take for granted. We live in a country where the courts make unpopular decisions and we can protest them. We live in a nation where any citizen is free to publicly criticize any elected official. If it were not for veterans, what kind of country would be living in. It's safe to say, it wouldn't be the one you live in now.

Veterans Day is the day where we remember historic names like Washington, York, Patton, Eisenhower, MacArthur, Bradley, Nimitz, Halsey, Pershing, Roosevelt (both), Jackson (Andrew and Stonewall), Farragut, Lee, and yes, even Grant and Sherman. All are famous names in American military history but they're not the most important names.

The most important names are the ones that few people have heard of - the names on grave markers scattered around the globe and the names of everyday heroes who made it home to resume their lives without war.

The boys who went off to fight in France in World War I returned as men thinking they had fought the last war only to see their sons and grandsons fight a second world war.

From that "greatest generation," a new generation of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines emerged. They fought a bloody and sadly, largely forgotten war in Korea. True, the veterans of the Vietnam were treated more shabbily (and I'm being kind in my terminology) than any in the history of the world. It took 20 years, but people finally started to give Vietnam vets the respect they derserved all along.

Korean veterans were just ignored. The sad truth is that I grew up in a generation that learned about the Korean War from watching M*A*S*H reruns. That's a shame and a black eye for our country. Korea was called a "police action" because war was not officially declared. That should not diminish what those brave men (and women) accomplished. Their sacrifices, like those of every other war, should be acknowleged.

Make the effort. Take the time to thank a veteran. A little appreciation goes a long way.

Richard Evans is Editor of the Claiborne Progress