On Sept. 11, 2001 our country was struck with tragedy when the World Trade Center buildings collapsed and almost 3,000 lives were lost. Eleven years later, the United States is still trying to deal with that loss not only by mourning, but giving thanks to firefighters, paramedics, police officers and military personnel as well.
Tuesday Facebook and Twitter newsfeeds were filled with statuses and tweets thanking the people serving our country in one way or another. There were moments of silence for lives lost fighting and protecting the United States and flags flown at half staff as a sign of grieving.
Even though Sept. 11 is a significant day in the history of our country, shouldn’t we be using every day as a day of thanks instead of just one of the few days a year designated for remembrance?
We thank others around us every day. We say thank you when a person holds open a door for us or lets us cut in line. And those are just small favors.
Military, cops, firefighters and paramedics don’t work a normal 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift. They work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They work holidays and often work shifts that are much longer than eight hours. We should be thanking the person risking his or her life for our freedom before thanking the person who picked up the book you dropped.
In fact, thanking the service men and women of our country is much like thanking someone for holding open a door, because they are opening the door of opportunity for the people of the United States.
Tuesday Baker Serves hosted a letter-writing campaign for troops, and thank-you notes were distributed to members of the Baker University community who have served in the military. Although this effort was probably appreciated by those receiving the letters, it is also likely they would feel the gratitude even more if they were thanked on a day that wasn’t designated.
As citizens of the United States we enjoy the freedoms, privileges and safety provided by the men and women serving the country.
Whether it is a soldier on his third tour in Iraq or a paramedic in Lawrence, and whether it is Memorial day or the third Thursday in September, these men and women deserve recognition and thanks for serving our great nation.