November 11th is Veteran’s Day. There will be ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery and at the White House. Some government offices and banks will be closed. But, unfortunately, a great number of the men and women who’ve served our country will wake up today and feel forgotten.
Let’s change that.
I’m running this post early so that when they wake up on Tuesday the 11th, there will be a mass of loving messages from readers to our military personnel around the world.
Three years ago, I compiled a booklet of messages — some from online readers, some hand written — thirty pages of love that was duplicated many times and sent overseas. The reaction and gratitude still takes my breath away. And it’s the least I could have done. I hope this year, to make Cyber Hugs for Heroes a bigger deal. Please add your thoughts and good wishes below and let our heroic men and women know they are remembered.
Heroes are important to writers — especially thriller and suspense writers. But no matter how well we write a character, there is nothing that compares to real life heroes. Ordinary people, sometimes with extraordinary skills, all with enormous courage to confront horrific situations and keep us safe.
So often our unsung heroes in the Armed Forces are never thanked for the sacrifices they’ve made to protect us all. They receive poor pay, tremendous responsibility, dangerous accommodations, and they do it all with a smile. It’s now our turn to say, “Hey, thanks for being there, for serving, for doing for me what I cannot do for myself.”
So, to all our Vets, and also to those in clandestine service where there is no holiday — officers in the CIA, NSA, FBI, Homeland Security, Secret Service, and too many others to list, I’m sending you all a huge
THANK YOU!
Each and every one of you — whether on the battlefield or behind a desk– work as a team to keep us and much of our planet safe. This includes our allies throughout the world (Did you know November 11th is called Remembrance Day in Canada, Australia and Britain?). You humble us with your sacrifice. Our debt to you will never be repaid. God bless you and keep you from harm.
Please let our vets know how much they mean to you by leaving a comment below. I’ll spread the word to make sure they are seen.
(I will NEVER abuse your email — but note you do not need to leave your email to leave a message below.)
Categories: Cyber Hugs for Heroes, Heroes and Interesting People
This is a beautiful post, Diana. Saluting our unsung heroes with you.
So glad to see you here, Ellen! Please spread the word.
XO
Diana, thank you so much for doing this. I will happily spread the word to as many of my readers and military connections as I can! God bless you and God bless our troops, their families, and our veterans!
Amen and thanks, Heather.
XO
What a wonderful thing to do for our military. From the proud daughter of a WWII vet I wish to send my thanks to all who are serving no matter in what capacity to protect and guard our country. God bless each and every one of you.
Also, to those that have served or are family of those that have served God bless you too.
On Veteran’s Day and every day we thank you for all that you are and all that you do. Thank you too to your family and all your loved ones who wait for you at home. Safe tour! Safe travels! Our hearts are full of thanks for you.
As a veteran myself and the daughter, wife, and mother of a veteran i send my best regards to our military. I pray for your safety every day and thank you for your service. God Bless
As a Marine veteran and wife of an Army veteran, thank you for all you are doing. My thoughts are with you each and every day.
Patricia
Thanks so much for the post. I tweeted.
My heartfelt thanks to our troops spanning the globe! It’s something we don’t say enough, and something that cannot be said too much. Because what you do–day in and day out–IT MATTERS. We appreciate you and your countless sacrifices. Yesterday, today, and all the days that follow.
I served 3 years active duty in the Army, and while I was fortunate to never see battle, I was stationed overseas. And being far from home, it’s easy to feel forgotten. I’m here to remind you you aren’t. So for those soldiers still deployed, I continue to pray for your safe and speedy return to your families who miss you dearly.
With gratitude,
Darcy
Diana,
What a wonderful, heart-felt tribute to our Veterans. As a military brat, retired Navy Chief, former military spouse, and the mom of two Marines and one Army child, I sincerely appreciate Cyber Hugs for Heroes, and I add my humble thanks to all those who have served or are serving. Stay safe, thank you for keeping us free, and God bless you and your families!
Sincerely,
Diana C.
*I’ll be sharing! 🙂
To our troops at home and overseas – thanks for all you do.
Gail Hart (USAFR Ret.)
To all the troops serving at home and abroad – a very heartfelt thank you for all that you do to protect our freedom and keep us safe. Y’all are heroes!!! <3
Thank you everyone who is commenting. Please keep the messages coming!
XO
I want to send my thanks to all who are serving – and all who have served – no matter in what capacity to protect and guard our country. God bless each and every one of you. I sleep safe at night because of your protection. This world is filling with so much evil that puts our way of life at risk. Thank you for being the heroes who selflessly keep the hordes at bay. I thank you for myself, my children and my grandchildren. I pray for you every day.
Thank you to the courageous men and women who have defended or are currently defending our country. Thank you for allowing this country to maintain its core principles of freedom and justice for all. We appreciate you and your countless sacrifices. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you to all who have or are serving our country. Your service is appreciated and will not be forgotten.
All the hugs to those who serve. You are true heros.
Lots of {HUGS} and THANK YOU for all of your work and all of the sacrifices you and your family make to protect us all.
Many thanks to the men and women who’ve served and to the family and friends who’ve supported them. You and your service is deeply appreciated. My heroes wear camouflage and combat boots. Hugs from Charlotte, NC!
Thank you for your service. I’m in awe of all you do! God bless, stay safe!!! Hugs…
I want to thank you so much for your service to our country!!!! You are always in my prayers. May God bless each and every one of you!!! Stay safe and take care.
Hugs
Thank you, men and women who risk your lives for our country. You honor us with your commitment and your work. I know, I’ve heard many of you say “I’m just doing my job,” but even if it only seems a job to you, it is more than that to us. Thank you.
My words of Thank You are nothing compared to the sacrifices you and your families make on a daily basis. No words can describe my pride in all of you who now serve or have served in the past. I am so grateful to live in a country where I can do what I want or say what pleases me. Thank you for continuing the fight, to ensure me and every other American has these freedoms! I think daily of what a great country I live in, and the men & women who fight for it. Every day in my heart is Veteran’s Day. Continued prayers for all of my heroes! God Bless All!
I am so grateful to all of you leaving messages for our stalwart heroes. Please keep sharing and spreading the word!
Thank you to all of our veterans–whether you’re retired or currently serving. I worked for a national veteran’s service organization in the publication department for several years, and I remember reading the true heroic stories told from the soldier’s point of view. Many were so heart wrenching. Often times they were about self sacrifice for the good of the platoon. When we had to choose recipients of an award each year to honor some of these heroes (unfortunately most were given posthumous), I couldn’t imagine a harder choice. Soldiers who threw their bodies on grenades to save the rest of their platoon or company. Soldiers who led fire away from the rest of the men when they knew hope was lost. In those times, that act of self sacrifice allowed many men to come home to their own families. And they never forgot! I remember men from WWII sitting with me and crying when retelling their stories. It was so hard for me to try to take notes to even write the story.
For every story like that from the old days, I thank all of those men who served. For all of the stories happening now that will one day be told to someone else’s family, thank you as well. Every day is part of the same story that makes up our history. Every day we honor you. Not just on Veteran’s Day but every day of the year.
Thank you!
And thank you, Diana, for such a heartwarming post. What a fabulous idea. 🙂
Thank you for all who are serving and who have served. Because of your bravery and sacrifice, I am able to feel safe in my day to day life. We are so blessed in the USA to have our servicemen and women. Many blessings to you all.
To my daughter’s boyfriend, Jayson, thank you so much for your bravery, your sacrifice and your service. Thank you to all the men and women who have stepped forward to serve and protect the United States. My gratitude runs deep.
to my sons , Nicholas and Adam… words cannot describe how proud I am of the both of you.. I love you guys to pieces… thankyou for your sacrifice.. love mom <3
thankyou to all the service men and woman across the United States and abroad… I am so proud and thaankful of all of you.. and you guys make me sooo sooo proud to be an American… with much gratitude , love and respect <3
Sincere thanks to our wonderful servicemen and women. You shine as exemplars of courage and honor.
And many thanks to you, Diana, for this tribute!
Thank you so much for the comments and shares, everyone. Please keep them coming!
Thanks to you, we all have a safer world in which to live and raise our children.
We appreciate your sacrifice!
Kathleen Rockwood
I am so grateful to live in the United States, a country where I can feel relatively safe. Happy Veterans Day to all of you who have helped make it so. Thank you!
Many thanks to the servicewomen and servicemen who sacrifice so much to keep us safe. The people of our country, and people in other countries across the globe, are grateful to you. You make us proud. Happy Veterans’ Day!
I want to thank all our soldiers who have sacrificed their time and some, their lives, so we can live in freedom. At the wedding celebration of my two daughters, during my speech, I ask the veterans to stand, so that they can be thanked and recognized for all their service.
May God Bless them now and forever.
You are a heck of a guy, Frank. Hugs to you, too.
To all the women and men who serve or have served, whether in theater or making the mission possible from back home, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your commitment and sacrifice. You are loved and appreciated on this day and every day.
(Diana, thanks so much for doing this!)
I wish more people would do things like this. Thank you Diana for making it so easy.
For our Vets, thank you for all you do for us every single day. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. You are NOT forgotten!
Thanks to all who serve, support and defend our freedoms.
Thanking those who have served and praying for those still out there. Your courage is humbles me.
A day late, but a promise to remember all those who serve each day through next Veterans Day!
You serve so we can remain free – and better our world. God bless you and God bless the USA. Thank you!