Next Friday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day.

We at The Shepherdstown Chronicle hope residents will find a way to honor veterans of wars in the past and the ones served now aboard.

Whether you agree with the reasons the wars were fought or not, this is a time to celebrate those who put their lives on the line and protect our freedom.

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the projected veteran population in the United States as of September 2010 was over 22,600,000. With American troops still serving in the Middle East and President Obama announcing recently that by the end of the year he plans on withdrawing all troops from Iraq, that number will only rise.

This is not a small community of people to honor. These foreign wars cast a wide net, affecting families and loved ones across our nation. Honor them next week – whether you attend a ceremony or fly a flag, give thanks to those who put their country before themselves, never giving it a second thought.

For more on a wounded veterans ceremony in Shepherdstown, read the article on Page 2.