DON'T LIMIT HONOR FOR VETERANS TO THE HOLIDAYS

Today the nation honors its veterans with parades, flags, and ceremonies. All too often, we have a tendency to view Veterans Day as just another government-declared holiday. But that's wrong; our nation's veterans deserve our respect and appreciation year-round, not just on a holiday. Veterans, both living and dead, are the reason we live free today.

This marks the 74th anniversary of Armistice Day a day dedicated to peace. Americans can certainly revel in peace this year: The threat of nuclear war has lessened with the end of the Cold War; democracy has sprung up in the most unlikely places across the globe.

These changes are not a reason to downgrade veterans. Rather, they show the importance of our nation's veterans and armed forces. The peace dividend resulted from our nation's sacrifices in the past.

The veterans we honor served in both peacetime and war with the wars as different as the decades in which they occurred. Some of those conflicts received the full backing of the nation; others did not. For example, many Americans were critical of the Vietnam war. But the criticism should be confined to the war, not to the veterans who had to fight in the rice paddies of Southeast Asia. They did their duty, and in doing so, many paid the ultimate sacrifice.

This region has proved enduring champions of veterans. The giant flag flying in Cape Girardeau County Park pays daily tribute to all servicemen and women. This patriotic memorial was sponsored by the Joint Veterans Council and Cape Girardeau County.

The Veterans Home signifies another strong measure of area and state support. Local officials and veterans groups worked hard to bring this fine facility to Cape Girardeau County. It provides tangible assistance to veterans in need.

The area's newest veterans' memorial is under construction in Jackson. The memorial, which will honor living and deceased veterans, will be built on a 40-acre park behind Brookside Motel on Highway 61 North. Its 9-foot tall granite stones and flag centerpiece should provide a moving tribute under completion next year. Another new veterans monument will be constructed in Anna, Ill., the site of one of the largest veterans parades in Illinois today.

These projects help us to pay tribute to our veterans every day, not just on holidays. It is only fitting that Americans should honor our nation's veterans, for in honoring them we honor our nation and its enduring principles of liberty and freedom.