Aristotle once said people make war so they can live in peace.
That's what the U.S. military is all about. Our soldiers train to go to war so, hope upon hope, they don't have to. Strength is a considerable deterrent.
But it's not a foolproof deterrent, and it's sometimes necessary to do battle with other, perhaps more aggressive, nations.
We have seen this in recent years, as our soldiers have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism.
In the years between our battles, our military preserves the peace. And those who serve keep us free, even if they do not make it to the front lines of the latest war.
This weekend, our country salutes our veterans who have served and kept our country strong.
They have kept us free.
For those serving, we offer a prayer for your wellbeing and safety. We salute your commitment to our continued freedom.
The Veterans Day holiday, which is officially on Sunday, originated in the wake of World War I, when at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, hostilities ceased on the continent, the results of an armistice.
A year later, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that still moves us:
"To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory."
After World War II, observation of Nov. 11 was later expanded from honoring what occurred in World War I to honoring all American war veterans; hence, the change of name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
For America they sacrificed, and Americans should never forget it.
The editorials in this column represent the opinions of The News-Star's editorial board, composed of President and Publisher David B. Petty, Executive Editor Kathy Spurlock and community representatives Lyle Miller, Tom Nicholson and Kelly Shambro.