It’s a little after Veterans Day, but we want to thank all who have and are serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Recently we covered Veterans Day services that occurred in Hogansville and LaGrange, which honored local veterans and gave attendees a moment to reflect on their time in the military.

At the West Georgia Veterans Council’s service on Monday, Mike Hudson told the audience that even when two veterans from different backgrounds meet, they still have the military connection.

Everyone who served has a different story, a different reason why they joined the military, what their rank was and how long they stayed. Yet, they still woke up early, put on a uniform and marched through their days  in rain or shine. Some even died in combat while defending the county, so we could continue living.

No matter how our veterans have served, we should make sure to recognize them and thank them for their service.

Vietnam veteran Col. Paul Longgrear mentioned on Monday that there are about 4,700 veterans living in Troup County. Chances are we’ve probably met a handful of them outside veteran activities. If you meet one, make sure to thank them and show your gratitude. It’s the least we can do.