You turn on the radio. The announcer for the local station is reading the list of men who died  in Vietnam that day.

You listen for that one name. Once you realize it’s not there, you can breathe again. Your father is safe.

But then you hear his first name … and your heart drops. You still have hope they haven’t said the last name. They say “Jones,” which isn’t even close. You wipe the tears from your eyes and shut off the radio.

Veterans Day. Nov. 11. A day the nation thanks the men and women who served in the U.S. military to preserve the rights and freedoms many of Americans take for granted every day.

Powell High School put on its annual Veterans Day assembly Monday, Nov.12.

One veteran in particular recalls what it was like to serve.

“Every time you got on a ‘copter you didn’t know if it was coming back,“ HM3-FMF Mr. Dwight Gilbert said while fighting back tears.

Mr. Gilbert, a Veteran of the Vietnam war, volunteered for the Navy. After completing medic training, he joined the Marine Corps and was in Vietnam August 1966-September 1967. He was stationed in Banang and PhuBia. He also took part in over 200 combat missions.

“Once you’ve seen war, you will never look at life the same again,” Mr. Gilbert added.

The Vietnam veterans had it different than most. When they left and arrived home the only happy greetings they received were from their loved ones. Many others didn’t like that the U.S. was participating in this war, so many of these veterans were spat on when they arrived home and received very few thank you’s.

“Letters were the only way,” Mrs. Dawn Gilbert said.

Times are different now. During the Vietnam war the only means of communication was through  letters. Mothers, wives, siblings and other relatives and friends lived by the mailbox and awaited that much-needed letter from their soldier overseas.

Many family, friends and loved ones were fighting their own war at home. The war of constant worry. The war of being supportive and optimistic even though they were scared to death.

As PHS’ assembly and throughout the community, many complimented and thanked the veterans, going so far as to call them heroes. These men and women fought for freedoms and rights of all Americans. Such freedoms and rights sometimes are taken for granted because many don’t realize the real cost. Veterans Day is a day to acknowledge the people who lived through it and survived and to honor those who paid the ultimate cost.

Veterans Day is a way to say: Thank you for your service.