let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle & his widow & orphan II

I've been a patriotic girl all my life (or as long as I can remember). The patriotic holidays make me a little weepy. Veterans Day and Memorial Day are especially emotional for me. So many people have written so much about our service-people I don't feel I can do justice. There is a profound sense that I have to be a witness since I did not serve. My dad made a point one time (I think I heard it second hand) that he has been serving veterans for 30+ years. I was honored to serve them for the limited time I did. Now, I support IAVA because we {American public} have a responsibility to make sure that our Veterans are cared for (hence the title).