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Over the past few weeks, we have all seen scores of heartbreaks and loss that have been hard to take in. As Americans we care about each other and we mourn for all the families who have lost so much. We have also witnessed that tough, resilient spirit that reigns supreme on in these grand United States of America.

It’s that fighting spirit that will not allow us to give up or give in to tragedy. The visions of a brighter tomorrow and hope for the future, accompanied by happy memories of the past, keep us going, moving forward, digging out and under no matter how high the pile or how deep the pit.

The message of resiliency with “BLESSED” hand-scrolled on the back glass of a mud-laden vehicle that was spared enough to still drive warms our hearts, along with the men and women who came from everywhere – even out of our country, I heard – to lend a hand … and the blessings of contributions and generosity from neighbors and strangers alike abound every day, thank the good Lord.

It is getting colder in the Blue Ridge Mountains and somebody said some snow has even fallen … a story I heard about involved an elderly woman who asked a volunteer who had stopped by her house to check on her if they were hungry and offered to share what she had cooked for supper, inviting them in. Imagine that. The report was that she had been sleeping on the floor, making do with what she had left.

Amazing stories like that are uplifting to all of us watching TV from our comfortable living room in our favorite chair. It makes us stop and consider the strength, courage and faith those incredible people have, and makes us doubly count our many blessings.

It is no wonder folks want to come here and live with us; or that people around the world desire to live in a country so blessed, mostly as I see it because of who and what we believe in. We have set an example for the world to want to be our neighbor and our friend, for the most part; pray for those with evil will.

Our military – 100% the very best in the world – sacrifice so much on a daily basis and we must always honor them for all that they do and for all that they are … thank you, servicemembers, for all you have learned; for your deployments and the wide spaces between you and your loved ones that you miss terribly. You deal with what you have witnessed in your military career, and you will for the rest of your life. Never forget the heroes that you are or how much you touch our lives, whether stationed here or abroad, ready to protect and defend our beautiful homeland and her people.

Veterans Day – Monday, November 11, 2024 – is of course an incredibly special day in our country and in particular, the Outer Banks! Also, Veterans Week, running from Monday, November 4 through Monday, November 11, 2024, is approaching fast and I hope that you all will attend the variety of impressive events planned and conducted by many locals in your honor. Consider that if you live out of town, various Outer Banks hotels and motels offer discounts for veterans if you would also like to stay over for a few nights.

Remember the scheduled 2024 Veterans Writing Workshop – the 12^th annual event that is held here on the Outer Banks at the UNC Coastal Studies Institute from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 and Sunday, Nov. 10. This year the class will offer songwriting, and it will be taught by accomplished instructors in the field. “The two-day workshop is FREE to Veterans, Active Duty military and their family members” as described in the posting from the Dare Arts website: darearts.org, so please check it out to register in advance, because it is a requirement. There will be so much to do and share with your “brothers and sisters,” so please make your best effort to come and join the fun and comradery.

The full details of events, schedules, times, places, etc. will be forthcoming in Gig Line, so please keep abreast in the next few weeks. Also, you can find lots of information in Facebook by searching Outer Banks Veterans.

If you are a veteran or a veteran supporter, please consider putting a green light bulb on your front porch or deck for Veterans Week.

Remember to contact Patty O’Sullivan, Dare County veteran service officer, at office: 252-475-5604, cell/text: 252-473-7749 or email: patricia.o’sullivan@darenc.gov. if you would like to donate canned goods toward a grant the Outer Banks V.F.W. Post 10950 Auxiliary is seeking to help meet the criteria weight which will benefit our Beach Food Pantry and our veterans.

Please note info about the fundraiser for veterans that will involve pickleball, too!

If you would like to talk to me, you are welcome to contact me on my cell/text at 252-202-2058 or email me at giglineheroes@aol.com.

Until next time, be healthy, safe and happy! No matter what goes on around us, life is still good. Pray for our veterans and active duty heroes, as well as for each other and our country. God bless America! I love you all. Stay tuned!

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