Tomorrow we salute and pay homage to the men and women who have served our country while in uniform.

We especially recognize those who have paid the ultimate price in defending all of us, our freedoms and our way of life.

We honor those who have stood in the face of danger and those who have sacrificed time away from family to stand for America’s interests here and abroad.

Tomorrow there will be Veteran’s Day assemblies and for a few minutes we will pause to honor the service of those soldiers, past and present.

But once a year hardly seems like an appropriate thank you to the men and women who have done so much to protect you and I.

Sure, there are plenty of monuments that have been erected, but I don’t always think a piece of granite or plaque truly reflects our appreciation.

Several years ago, I was fortunate to go on a trip to Hawaii. I wanted to see the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

The boat ride to the memorial was haunting and I remember that the crowd on the boat was still. No one was speaking, only the boat engine could be heard.

As we docked and made our way onto the memorial, it was clear that we were standing above hallowed waters. No one said a word as folks looked out over the USS Arizona or stared at the names of those who lost their lives that day. It was sad, difficult and humbling.

After returning to back to the visitor’s center, a Vietnam veteran told me that while the memorial was impressive, he wished the same kind of reverence expressed while we were on the boat and on the memorial was shown to those veterans still living.

He said he wasn’t looking for parades or other ceremonies, rather he just wanted a handshake or some sort of acknowledgment that his service was appreciated.

I understand that Veteran’s Day is our attempt to do just that. But I don’t think it’s nearly enough.

Every day should be Veteran’s Day. Every day we should give thanks to the men and women and their families for their sacrifice and service.

We need to eliminate the bureaucracy that hampers veterans getting the kind of medical care and benefits they deserve. We should insist that our county veterans affairs office is open and staffed at least 40 hours a week.

We should wave the American flag, not just on holidays or special occasions, but every day.