From coast to coast, pole to pole and around the world there are American men and women who are defending our country in ways large and small at all hours of the day and night. They’re in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and Reserves — all doing what’s necessary to keep the United States of America “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

There are also our fellow Americans who have served, but have either retired after decades of service or became disabled in combat. These are our veterans, and while they’re not active militarily they are no less valuable. Last week, the nation took the time to honor those men and women.

We can and should thank those we know who served. We can also honor them by individually living up to the principles that define us as Americans: bravery, courage, commitment, refraining from cheating, lying or stealing, and also not tolerating such behavior. Becoming involved in our respective communities’ governments is another way to maintain a proper life of service to others.

What occurs to us this week, now that Veterans Day is just a blip in the memory of an eventful 2016 for most folks, is this: Considering those ideals of service and considering the important contributions of those who uphold those ideals, shouldn’t we think of every day as Veterans Day?