Thursday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

It's Veterans Day. We honor the men and women who put their lives on the line for the rest of us.

In my family, my grandfather, Festus, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland in 1910, joined the Army and fought in World War I. That's how he became a U.S. citizen. That's how many immigrants still become citizens, fighting for their new country. They're willing to die for us -- and many do.

This photo is my Uncle Joe, for whom I am named. He's the son of Festus. He served his country during World War II, but he didn't make it home alive. He was killed in France in 1945.

UPDATE: After I posted these photos of her father and brother, my mother sent me a picture of my dad from when he was in the Navy. He served from 1955-57:

That's an American story. Vets are our family. We need to honor them -- today and every day.