"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die."

— G.K. Chesterton

Over the past couple of years, many of our traditions have been challenged and overturned in the name of political correctness.

But one tradition that has become stronger, thank goodness, is the honoring of our real heroes — our nation’s veterans. For those who can remember the shameful treatment of our veterans during the Vietnam era, this is an especially welcome trend.

We have thousands of veterans, who have served from World War II to the present day, living here in Newton County. Our own Pete Mecca, a hero himself, has highlighted many of their stories.

Tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 11, on the Covington square, Don Floyd, commander of American Legion Post 32, will host the annual Veterans Day service starting at 11 a.m. It is appropriate that this is the starting time.

Though World War I, the "war to end all wars,’’ didn’t officially end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June of 1919, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice went into effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

The keynote speaker at the Covington observance will be the Rev Len Strozier, formerly of the First Baptist Church of Covington. This is always a moving ceremony.

If you know a veteran, or there is a veteran in your family, thank him or her every day, not just on Veterans Day.

But on Monday, give a veteran a hug. God knows that without our veterans, you would not be free to read this editorial, and we would not be free to write it.