Veterans Day, 2011

We salute our veterans and honor their service and sacrifice today, Veterans Day.

“Either war is obsolete or men are.” —Buckminster Fuller
“There never was a good war or a bad peace.” —Benjamin Franklin

No one hates war more than the soldiers who fight in them. A close friend of mine asked on Facebook, “What is the one thing you would change in the world if you could?” I did not have to think: It was NO MORE WAR.

It is such a shame that we continue to send our strongest and brightest youth to fight in wars, wars that usually do not solve any of the underlying issues that caused the conflict to begin with.

“How important is it for us to recognize our heroes and she-roes!” —Maya Angelou

Thank you to all who have served!

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  • I really welcomed the end of daylight saving time. I believe a Native American once said, “Only the white man would think that if you cut a foot off of a blanket and sew it onto the other end of the blanket that the blanket is longer.”

    Thank a veteran today for his or her service and sacrifice!

    Thank you for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

    Your Kibbles & Bytes team,

    _Don, Kali & Stephanie_