THANK YOU, Veterans!

Today is Veterans' Day, of course we should be grateful every day, but today is the official holiday for those who answered the call to serve our country in the U.S. military. We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. Thank You, to all of our Veterans and their families, God bless you and God Bless America.

This is my Great Great Grandfather Thomas Stenson's grave in Mohill, County Leitrim, Ireland. Thomas left Ireland to come to America and he fought for the Union in the Civil War. He served in Company E of the 15th Regiment of the Connecticut Infantry. Thomas was wounded in Battle of Fredericksberg, Virginia on December 13, 1862. He was captured and made a POW in the Battle of Wise's Forks, in Kingston, NC on March 8, 1865. He was released on March 26, 1865 and discharged from the Army on June 27, 1865. Thomas Stenson then returned to his wife and family in Ireland.

One of Thomas' sons, Peter, my Great Grandfather, came to America at a time when Irish were told to not even bother applying for jobs because they were not wanted here. Peter changed his last name to Stevenson and fought in the Spanish American War as a Rough Rider. Unlike his father, Peter became an American citizen and remained here for the rest of his life. Here is a picture of him in his uniform:

My father, Paul Stevenson, Peter's grandson, proudly served in the United States Army and was stationed in Panama during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

I am deeply honored to be the descendant of these great men. I am grateful for and humbled by the tremendous sacrifices that they, and all who have served or are serving in our military, made for all of us.

I can't say it enough, but I'll say it every chance that I get:

THANK YOU to all of our Veterans past and present, and thank you to your families who also sacrifice so much for us. God Bless you and God Bless America.

Here is a beautiful tribute video that I found today and wish to share with you. Always remember and never forget, to THANK A VET every chance you get!




H/T to my friend, Fred Roach who gave me information that helped me to find out more about Thomas Stenson's Regiment in the Civil War.