It won’t get the attention of Christmas or Easter, or even Memorial Day. Sadly, it likely falls below Valentine’s Day, Labor Day and others in terms of actual public involvement. But Veterans Day is in many ways the most important of them all because without the individuals who the day honors, none of the others would be possible for us to celebrate.

Today is the day the federal government and the nation is supposed to recognize the men and women who have answered the call of duty and made personal sacrifices to defend our great nation and fight for our freedoms.

Many have paid the ultimate price, sacrificing their own lives so that loved ones and generations to come can enjoy the way of life that we hold so dear.

Veterans Day will likely never get the attention that those other holidays do, but each of us owe it to those who have served in the Armed Forces to try to raise awareness just a little bit each and every year.

If we take a moment to say thank you to a veteran, it makes a difference. If we teach our children the importance of Veterans Day, it makes a difference. If we simply reflect on how our world would be vastly different without these brave men and women, it makes a difference.

Much has been asked of our veterans over the years. Taking just one day to recognize them and hopefully trying to carry that into our everyday lives is a small cost compared to the price paid by our nation’s soldiers.