Commander issues Veterans Day message to deployed personnel

Published Nov. 10, 2011
By Brig. Gen. Jeff Lofgren
380th Expeditionary Air Wing Commander

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Commander of 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Brig. Gen. Jeff Lofgren sends the following Veterans Day message to the deployed men and women at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing:

The roots of Veterans Day go back to when the major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the signing of the Armistice. Our country originally called this holiday Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in honor of the end of World War I. But, in 1954 after World War II, Congress decided to honor veterans of all wars and renamed the holiday Veterans Day.

On Veterans Day we honor those who have served and are serving our nation. During this time we pause in our busy lives to remember that the freedoms we enjoy were secured by those veterans who have gone before us.

On this special day we are inspired by the veterans of yesteryear with whom we share a common sense of purpose and a calling to serve our fellow man and country. Selflessly these veterans went about their tasks not asking for anything, but deserving our utmost respect.

To all our veterans, we salute you and are grateful for your service. We especially honor this day those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. We also acknowledge the families of our veterans who have sacrificed so that we could serve.

I want to take a moment to say thank you to all the Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors plus our Department of Defense civilians and contractors. Thank you for volunteering to serve your country. Thank you to your families for their support and sacrificing at home while you are away. Thank you for the long hours you put in and for your dedication to your jobs. It is hard being away from your families and friends, especially during the holiday season, and I understand that.

You are sacrificing daily to ensure we can get the mission done, and your hard work certainly does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The work you're doing here is saving lives and providing air power and support to the entire region. From the pilots and aircrews to all our support personnel, each one of you is critical to making our mission happen. Therefore, remain laser-focused on the mission at hand, just as those before us have done. They would expect nothing less from us.

As you reflect today about our veterans of the past and your own service, remember our charge of being responsive and proactive Airmen, providing vital air power to our brothers and sisters in arms. Reflect on the importance of what you're doing here for your country and renew your commitment to something bigger than yourself, that of defending our freedoms and the safety of our loved ones.

It is my honor and privilege to serve beside you. Thank you, warriors.