As a proud Desert Shield/Desert Storm veteran who is preparing for Veterans Day, I find it tragic that so many of my fellow Americans view Nov. 11 as just another day off work. I lost friends in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and I made a promise to their families that they would never be forgotten.

With wars on two fronts — and the Veterans Administration’s workload topping 1 million claims — it’s time for all Americans to remember the true meaning of Veterans Day. Call one of our local VFW Posts to take part in our ceremonies. And as we near the holidays, please keep our deployed troops and their families in your prayers. Send a care package or donate to a program that supports our troops and veterans, such as VFW Operation Uplink, www.operationuplink.org. Always remember those who have fought for your freedom.

Diane Pettit

Past VFW District 11 Commander

Indianapolis