I coached youth football and served on the Board of Directors for Lake Oswego Youth Football for 10+ years. I just love the colors of fall, the crisp fall days, and most of all, football. Cendix (Zairmail) still supports youth sports and sponsors young athletes. The Cendix website provides more details on our community activities, including our support of youth sports.

One fall, at the end of the season, I was talking with another coach. He was a decorated and retired career officer in the Marine Corps. His son had just been accepted to a prestigious military school. The once thing that stuck with me all these years, was when he said, “there is a lot of responsibility we are putting on the shoulders of these young people”.  At the time, I remember thinking that this response was probably tied to his many years of dedicated service.

As we watch the events unfold in Ukraine, his words come back to me, because we can see this principle at work. A lawless dumb-ass, in a country that has neither the legal controls nor the spine to stop him, is waging war on his neighbor, in what amounts to a vicious land-grab. Recent reports say that almost 100,000 soldiers have been killed or injured on each side. There are also tens of thousands of civilians who have died. The entire region will likely be scarred for generations by the senseless loss of life, property, and livelihood.

Yet, who is protecting the people of Ukraine? It is not the generals or the elected leaders. It is the brave young men and women of their armed services. Their country called, and they came together, to fight for their country, and push back on the evil that drives this conflict. The same is true of the United States, who stands with Ukraine, and provides the tools required to be successful. It is the young men and women of our armed services who help keep us safe. It is no small feat to protect a democracy and the freedoms we enjoy as citizens. It is also far too easy to overlook their sacrifices and contributions.

Today, on Veteran’s Day, please join us in giving thanks to the men and women of our armed services who sacrifice so much to keep us all safe. It truly is a lot of responsibility that we put on their shoulders. We also know they are more than up for the job.

God bless all of those who have served in uniform to keep us safe and protect our way of life.

Happy Veteran’s Day

The Zairmail Team