John,

All across the country today, people are joining together to honor our veterans — those who sacrificed everything in order to serve our country and defend the freedom that we hold dear. 

On Veterans Day, I always reflect on why I chose to serve, and why millions of other Americans since the inception of our country have chosen to put on the uniform of our Armed Forces. 

Just last week, while watching our lively democracy in action, I was reminded of why so many people have signed up to serve in our armed forces — why generations of Americans have put their lives on the line repeatedly and without hesitation. 

Our democracy is precious, and the ability to freely exercise our right to vote is one of the most fundamental aspects of our republic. 

I’d like to ask a favor before you click out of this email. I’d like to invite you to reach out to someone in your life who has served — a family member, a neighbor, a friend — and thank them for their service. 

We owe them a debt we can never repay.

Thank you for reading, 

Eric Holcomb