OldTroubador's blog post - Lest We Forget

Honor: noun: adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct
synonyms: integrity · honesty · uprightness · ethics · morals · morality · high principles · virtue · decency · good character · trustworthiness · reliability · dependability
verb: fulfill (an obligation) or keep (an agreement)
synonyms: · observe · fulfill · obey · heed · follow · carry out · discharge · be true to · live up to

Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, and loyalty

Duty: noun: a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility
synonyms: responsibility · obligation · commitment · allegiance · loyalty · faithfulness · fidelity · homage

General Robert E. Lee: Duty is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less.

Honor. Duty. Two words that carry much weight. It is to these two words, and their synonyms, that members of the armed forces have sworn to carry as their standard in peace and in war. Even though their duty may take them to far away lands, they honor the commitment they made by performing their obligation, their duty, to the oath they took. They regard their duty as an honor.

Sacrifice: noun: an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy

The sacrifices the members of the armed forces make are considerable. Time away from home and loved ones. Living in conditions that are unimaginable. The constant, mind-numbing horror of war. Yet they make these sacrifices on our behalf, for they have taken this as their duty. And they honor their commitment to something greater than themselves.

This day, 11 November, is a day set aside, nearly 100 years ago, for us to honor the sacrifices these men and women have made. It is our duty to remember what they have given up so that we may live our lives as we wish. It is our duty to honor their commitment to a cause with a commitment to them. It is our duty to honor their allegiance, their loyalty, their faithful discharge of duty with allegiance, loyalty, and faithfulness to them.
If we are negligent in honoring our veterans, then their sacrifices have been in vain. If we are negligent in our duty to the veterans of our respective countries, then we have broken faith with them.
Let us then swear that we will not forget these men and women, nor the sacrifices they made while performing their duty. Let us honor their commitment to something greater than themselves, on this day and all days. Let us strive to be as faithful to our duty as they are/were to theirs.

Thank you veterans, and active duty, for your sacrifices and for your allegiance. I am humbled by your service and am grateful for your commitment to honor and duty.