I enjoyed the privilege of spending some time at two of our local schools on Tuesday as the students, faculty and staff of each observed Veterans Day.

At Washington Elementary School in Gallipolis, students participated in a poster contest and the sixth-grade class — with some musical assistance from the Gallia Academy Madrigals — presented a fine program honoring our local veterans, which included presenting flowers to each veteran in attendance.

The sixth graders at Washington sang a song that I’ve never heard before. It was called “Welcome Home,” and the lyrics brought tears to my eyes as they reminded me of the far too many in our military that over the years have not received a proper “welcome home.”

A power point presentation showing pictures of veterans past and present was also a very moving experience and tribute during the program at Washington Elementary.

Later Tuesday afternoon, I headed to Mercerville and the new South Gallia facility, which houses both the middle school and high school. It’s a great building and if you haven’t been there for a visit yet, you need to see it. (Thanks to Jeff Fowler and SGHS student government president Alisa Johnson for the 50-cent tour!)

Keith Jeffers, the executive director of the Gallia County Veterans Service Office, gave a stirring speech at South Gallia, reminding the students of the steep price so many good people have paid to keep our nation free.

Equally stirring was a flag demonstration by the South Gallia FFA, who showed the proper fashion in which our national symbol should be folded. Following the demonstration, FFA member Josie Rankin presented the flag to Jeffers.

As I drove back to the office from South Gallia, I had time to reflect on what Veterans Day means and, sadly, how trivial it’s become in some corners of our society. As a kid, I remember my father instilling in me a deep and abiding respect both for those who serve in our military and those who serve in law enforcement. Pop always spoke so highly about our great American military heroes and the sacrifices they and near countless others made to bring our great country into being and keep it free.

We lived near MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., and it was a daily routine for us to keep an eye peeled for a sleek fighter jet or one of the giant transport planes that flew in and out of the base. Seeing one of those fighters overhead gave me a feeling of safety and confidence. Hearing the roar of the engine told me that our military was strong and that our country was safe.

I’ve had the distinct honor of visiting Arlington National Cemetery on three separate occasions. First, as a 9-year old kid during America’s Bicentennial in 1976. The second trip came in 1985 on my high school senior trip, which coincided with President Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration (At an inaugural ball at the Smithsonian, I managed to get within about five feet of The Great Communicator to snap a photo, which drew a glare from a stout Marine who was on guard. I took at least two steps back and the Marine winked at me. Talk about unnerving!). The third was in 2001 when my wife and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a visit to Washington, D.C.

The rows of gravestones that grace the landscape, the memorials to our fallen — I have never left Arlington without feeling both a sense of great loss and pain and a sense of great gain and victory ... and pride in my country.

Arlington, in my mind, represents the best of America. It represents the willing, ultimate sacrifice of those brave souls who left family and friends behind because they believed in the dream of freedom that is America. It represents a love of country so deep, that my meager words can never do it justice.

So on this Veterans Day 2009, let us not forget those sacrifices that have been made so that we can live as free men and women. And let us not despise those sacrifices by failing to remember the men and women who have given all.

Let us vow to each other on this Veterans Day to never again take for granted the freedom that we enjoy — and all too often abuse.

Let us honor the spirit of Veterans Day every day.

(On this Veterans Day, I pay tribute to my brother, Raymond H. Carter, who served in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, and my sister, Donna E.L. Carter Littrell, who served in the U.S. Army as a member of the military police at Ft. Stewart, Ga., and later at NATO in Belgium.)