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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

This past week, the nation paused to thank those that have served or are serving in the military.

On Veterans Day, I often reflect on the few stories I know about my grandfathers’ service in the Korean War era.

I was not old enough to really ask about their stories when they lived close by, but when I was older, I did ask some question of my grandfather that was still living.

I have written several profiles about veterans in my career. These articles serve as a way to honor the veteran’s service while sharing his or her story.

The late Donald Frazier helped me tell these stories when I came to Chilton County by providing me a list of local veterans from his connections in the Disabled American Veterans organization.

DAV is an organization that I had heard about from a young age. My mom had worked setting up donations for the DAV thrift store when I was in elementary school. As an adult, I learned more about the organization and have covered some events local chapters have held. The organization offers support to veterans in a variety of ways.

I still have the list of local veterans Frazier gave me, so in a way he is still helping to tell veterans stories even though he is no longer with us.

Over the years, men and woman have enlisted in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard for different reasons. Some chose to join because family members had served. Some choose it for the educational benefits. Some, like one of my grandfathers, enlisted to avoid being drafted into a different branch of the military. Some were not initially given a choice, but were drafted.

Whatever the initial reason, all served and put themselves in harm’s way, either mentally or physically or both, and made sacrifices to serve.

May we be grateful for this, not just on national holidays, but every day of the year.