This week we pay special tribute to the men and women who do their best each day to defend the freedoms we so often take for granted. We recognize the veterans of wars, both past and present -- There are now veterans among us ranging from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan and numerous other conflicts throughout the world. There are more than 23 million military veterans. Of those nearly 2 million are women. More than 9 million are now older than 65, while nearly 2 million are younger than 35.

It is important to remember that while we may not always understand or fully approve of the cause championed by our government, our soldiers are there for one reason: They are dedicated to defending our freedom and maintaining justice for those back home.

It is important to remember every day the sacrifices our veterans have made on our behalf and to say "Thank you" for their part in keeping us free, keeping us safe and keeping this a country where we all have an equal opportunity to reach for the stars -- and actually grasp them.