Rosemary Prince, LLC

Today as we honor the men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces we continue a tradition begun more than 100 years ago.

As a child Veterans Day brought our community to the center of town in Browns Mills, the small town in which I grew up in New Jersey, a community adjacent to Ft. Dix Army Base and McGuire Air Force Base. My contribution to show honor and respect was by marching in the town parade first as a Girl Scout then as a member of the Pemberton Township High School Color Guard. Also often marching with his unit from Ft. Dix would be my father, First Sergeant Cecil F. Prince, US Army (Ret.) Having the opportunity to march in the same parade as my dad was a proud moment for me and are cherished memories.

As an adult, teaching my daughters the importance of continuing to honor and respect our Veterans included marching in the Tallahassee annual Veterans Day parades with our Girl Scout troops. This provided a teaching opportunity and a chance to share our connection to continuing the family tradition. We also created our own cherished family memories.

The freedoms we enjoy today are due to the service and sacrifices of many. Personally, I am grateful for the service of my family members, including my father-in-law, brother-in-law, cousin, nephew and my dad.