Your Veterans Day Messages of Gratitude Photos Your Veterans Day Messages of Gratitude Lyndsey Kauffman, in Chicopee, Mass., writes: "Happy Veterans Day to all who have served and their families. Thank you for protecting us. This is a picture of my great grandfather, Fredrick Czupkiewicz, 95 year old WWII veteran pictured (with my Aunt (left) and my Mother (right) at the Memorial Day Red Sox game (2011) where he pitched the first ball of the night, look at that SMILE! Courtesy Lyndsey Kauffman Thanks for your sacrifice, Major Riddick. Thinking of you & saluting you on Veterans Day and Always..I'm very proud of you..I may not be there now but you are always in my thoughts and in my heart..With love: Your wife: Martha P. Riddick. Kemah, Texas Courtesy Martha P. Riddick To my husband Linwood L. Flack III. You have struggled with that war for our 23 plus years and I know it wounded your heart and soul. ? But you have worked hard to cope and I am so proud of your service. 2 tours with 101st Airborne in Viet Nam brought you home with little to no thanks. but today. I stand beside you and say from my heart. Thank You Soldier! Trish. Courtesy Linwood L. Flack III Michael Biscuiti, of North Massapequa, N.Y., writes: "Bruno celebrated his 93rd birthday Wednesday. There are fewer and fewer of his kind every day, and we all owe a never-ending debt of gratitude to them both for their service and the sacrifices that they made so many years ago. They truly were the Greatest Generation and should be honored as long as they live and beyond. Courtesy Michael Biscuiti April Lusk, in Valparaiso, Ind., "wants to thank EVERY soldier, past, present & future, for their service for our Freedom! May we never forget why we are free, thank you for making this possible!!! Her father is seen serving in Vietnam, "showing where he almost stepped on a mine & a picture with the man who saved my dad from stepping on it!" Courtesy April Lusk Linda Schmidt from Cortland, N.Y. sent this photo of the crew of Don Grinter during WWII. They were part of the 398th Bomb Group."They may not still be here to hear my expression of gratitude but I am still in awe and eternally grateful to the men and women who served in WWII, including my dad, John Contento, who is shown at the bottom left of this photo." Courtesy Linda Schmidt "This is the day my son became a Chief in the Navy, "wrote Judy Merkel of Macomb Township, Mich."Our real heroes are the American soldiers and their families. They have given up so much to give us our freedom! Courtesy Judy Merkel Welcome Home, Daddy! Britni Szekeresh from Clovis, N.M. sent this photo of "my husband Staff Sergeant Sean Szekeresh and our son, Cael after my husband returned home from what was his 3rd deployment in a year. Today, I would like to salute the REAL 1 percent. The 1 percent who served to protect the 99 percent. The 1 percent who put their lives on the line for their country," she wrote. Courtesy Britni Szekeresh My father, UTCM John W. Magandy, a 30-year veteran of the Navy. Served with the Seabees with honor and taught all eight of us kids the meaning of the words honor, service, sacrifice," wrote Kate Holzhauser from Gulfport, Miss. Courtesy Kate Holzhauser Thank you to all who serve...land of the free because of the brave! Hooah!" wrote Tessa Wardle from Salem, Oregon, who sent this photo of her husband in action in Afghanistan just last month. Courtesy Tessa Wardle "Thank you to all veterans past, present and future!" wrote Malisa Puente, who submitted this photo of her husband and his father. Especially to my husband serving in the Air Force, my father, retired marine and my father in law who is also still serving in the Air Force. Courtesy Malisa Puente "This is my son Lt. Col Cople," wrote Kathryn Flynn of Cedaredge, Colo. Thank you to each and every one. You are truly the bravest of ALL Americans. You have given or are giving your life for ALL of us. How could you do more? Courtesy Kathryn Flynn This is a picture of my war hero, my dad, David Lee Bearden. He is a Navy war veteran, he served in the Korean War from 1951 to 1955," wrote Dawn Gunter, "I am so thankful that I still get to see my dad every day, there are so many who aren't as lucky as me, to get to hear the war stories first hand." Courtesy Dawn Gunter Darren is with the 145th from Oklahoma. He is currently in Afghanistan and scheduled to return in March. This photo was taken three weeks ago during his two week leave. He returned to a celebration of his sons second birthday. Hurry home, we miss you!" -Becky Watkins, Wagoner Okla. Courtesy Becky Watkins Aissa Jones from Bloomfield, Conn. sent in this picture of her grandfather, the sole survivor of the first graduated integrated platoon of the United States Marine Corps."Thank you cannot begin to express how I feel and appreciate all that you do! As a granddaughter of a marine, I admire the strength, the courage and the selfless service of all parts of our military! Aissa Jones My husband, Ernest Garcia Jr., joined the Army in May 1986 and retired July 1, 2011. This is his last formal dinner on active duty, December 2011," wrote Theresa Garcia, Cooperas Cove, Tex. Thank you for all your sacrifices, babe, your family thanks you and we were proud to stand next to you all those years and proud of your service. Courtesy Theresa Garcia Viewer Submitted Veterans Photos Paula Norris, from Leaner, Tex. submitted this photo of her son. "Thanks to all who has served and is serving our country," she wrote. A special thank you to our son, Garrett, who is serving in the United States Navy. He is stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. Paula Norris "This is the live potted Christmas tree the kids and I sent my husband, Major Gary Keith of the Army Reserves, in Iraq in 2009 so he could have the smell of Christmas in Colorado," wrote Kori Keith. Who knows, maybe there is one blue spruce alive in Iraq today. Courtesy Kori Keith This is my husband in Vietnam, June '68. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with V devise, but to me, he is the best husband and father in the world. Plus, look how cute he is!" wrote MJ May, from Raleigh N.C. Courtesy MJ May Ashley Woodin, from Kansas City, Mo. submitted a photo she titled "My Hero." This is my husband Craig, getting ready to head to Afghanistan. Although he will be away for a while, he still manages to hold a strong, warming smile," she wrote. I would like to say thank you to my wonderful husband for his 24 years of serving in the military. Courtesy Ashley Woodin Marine Peter Keough being reunited with his wife, Karen, and their infant daughter, Kaylie (April 2009). Thank you Veterans for your selflessness and the sacrifices you make on a daily basis for this country. Happy Veterans Day: a day of remembrance and gratitude that should be honored year-round! "Thank you all for what you do for us, the risks you take to keep us safe...god bless all of you!," wrote Diahann Simmons from South Charleston, W.V., who sent this photo of her husband Sergeant Major Jeff Simmons. Courtesy Diahann Simmons "I thank my husband Rob Williams," wrote Jane Williams, from Henniker, N.H. "He served on the SSBN 632 Von Stueben -- 10 years of service, 2.5 years under water!" Courtesy Jane Williams My Grandfather Joe J. Bennett is now 80 and he is a very proud to have served are great country. We are thankful for him and all the troops that protect us every day," wrote Ashley Hoving from Lynn Haven, Fla. Courtesy Ashley Hoving Tiffany Hefney of Rock Hill, S.C. sent in this photo of her father, Vietnam veteran Theodore C. Hefney, Jr. "Happy Veterans Day to all that have served/are serving our beautiful nation!" she wrote. God bless each and every one of you and your families! Courtesy Tiffany Hefney "My son, Sean Moran, at our camp while home on leave," wrote James Moran from East Syracuse, N.Y. "He's serving now in the U.S. Air Force Security Forces. Thank you to all veterans. Some Gave All /All Gave Some." <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/mailform?id=14928473" target=external>CLICK HERE to submit a photo of a veteran you want to thank.</a> Courtesy James Moran David Bedell, from Madison, Tenn., sent this photo of his father, Richard Bedell Sr. (1924-1991). The photo was taken before he was sent overseas during World War II. His message to all veterans on this Veterans Day: "If it weren't for you there would be no America! Thank you for your service! Courtesy David Bedell My son and his buddies currently serving. I'm thankful for the service and dedication of all of our servicepeople. May God bless them and their families. We salute you." - Stephanie Bonner-Luker, Butler, Al. Stephanie Bonner-Luker "I would like to remember my Uncle Nathaniel Rice - 'Bro'," wrote U.S. Navy veteran 1986-1997 Harland Buis from Morristown, Tenn. My Uncle was my inspiration to join the service. Courtesy Harland Buis "This is my Uncle Jerry aka "Gunny," my Granny and myself," wrote Tresa Norris from Murfreesboro, Tenn. Thank You to all whom have served our country (past, present and future). God Bless All!!! We are so proud of you Gunny....We are honored to have you! Courtesy Tresa Norris Carmon McManigell sent this picture of Robert E. Lee McManigell. This picture was taken in Kentucky right before Robert left for Germany. Courtesy Carmon McManigell Ashley Belenski sent this photo of herself "right before I got on the bus to take off to my first deployment to Afghanistan last month." Her message for fellow veterans?  Never give up! When you're down and feel like giving up, remember the reason why you started in the first place! Courtesy Ashley Belenski Cathy Williamson, from Lexington, Ken. submitted this photo of her father, who served n the Army as a Private First Class, being welcomed home from Vietnam. "We honor those brave men and women who have served our country so well," she wrote. Their legacy lives on in every freedom we cherish and in every heart that welcomes peace. To our Veterans, and to those who serve today, we say thank you. Courtesy Cathy Williamson My Uncle George V. Lindsey. He served in WW11 on the Yorktown," wrote Judy Merkel of Macomb Township, Mich. Thanks for giving us our freedom! "My dad, Cleveland M. Green: U.S. Army Circa 1950," wrote Patsy Green from Temple, Ga. To all veterans she says "Thank you so much to the brave men and women who serve our country so proudly, at home and abroad. 'Lord, bid war's trumpet cease; Fold the whole earth in peace. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes' Courtesy Patsy Green "So very proud of my father, Charles Josh," wrote Julie Sterio from Oswego, N.Y. "He is a veteran of WWII. My dad served this country during the war and I hope he knows how very proud I am to call him dad! To all veterans she says, "Time to be proud of all active and non-active members of our service, not just today, but every day." Courtesy Julie Sterio The producer of this slideshow, ABC News' Katie Morison, wants to thank her grandfather, Lt. Gen. (Ret) John H. Cushman, USMA '44. His long service to his country included combat duty in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division, which he later commanded. He just turned 90 years old! Courtesy Lt. Gen. (Ret) John H. Cushman