It’s a holiday that sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of more gaudy holidays.

Tucked between the costumes and candy of Halloween and the mad-commercial rush that has become Thanks-Christmas lies a day of remembrance for which we owe all the good times we are able to share on those other holidays.

Veterans Day is Thursday. Find a veteran and thank him or her.

Since the initial days of this republic, average citizens have taken up the responsibility to turn a dream of a free society into a reality.

Members of our armed forces have fought off the mighty British and the French. They fought each other for five bloody years to keep the Union together. They fought back tyranny and despotism in the two Great Wars and are now fighting the global war against radical Islam.

Many shy away from praise, saying they were just doing what they had to do. Others wear their service on their sleeves with pride. All are deserving of our respect and admiration. The sacrifices of our troops are boundless.

As it does annually, Vicksburg will enjoy a Veterans Day celebration at Memorial Rose Garden on Monroe Street in downtown. Service members of wars past, current operations and future wars, as well, will gather in celebration of those who returned home, and those who never did.

Preserving the American way of life and all the freedoms that come with it is a team effort. Our men and women in uniform are the backbone of that team. They deserve a hearty thank-you for what they have done, and what they will do in the future.

Thank-you.