EMMITSBURG, MD - Some U.S. Veterans say their service to our country bears a heavy weight, even though they've retired decades ago.
"I have great admiration for all my comrades. Have been dealing with effects of Vietnam for the rest past of my life and the good Lord will end it for me some day," says Paul Yoachim, a retired Army Veteran.
"It's tough. That's pretty much it for me, you get a little emotional, so if you'd excuse me for a moment," says David Yoder, a retired Marines Veteran.
The Mason-Dixon Welcome Center held an open house to honor Veterans, and it wasn't just families who came to pay tribute.
"A lot of times people forget that we're really the land of the free because of the brave. I think just now the world's starting to recognize how important they are and the things that they do, and i just wanted to help honor them; without them we wouldn't be where we are today."
David Yoder manages the Welcome Center. He served in the Marines during the Persian Gulf War and now his son is in the Navy's boot camp.
"It's easy to send someone else's kids off to war, and it's easy to send someone off to do something that you don't do, but I would never do anything that I wouldn't ask anybody else to do, but I think the President now is doing a great job," says Yoder.
Other Veterans believe those in office are too disconnected from the military.
"I personally feel that any president that serves this country should have served in some branch of the military," says Yoachim.
But all Veterans say they're thankful to be honored for their services today.
"I have great admiration for all my comrades. Have been dealing with effects of Vietnam for the rest past of my life and the good Lord will end it for me some day," says Paul Yoachim, a retired Army Veteran.
"It's tough. That's pretty much it for me, you get a little emotional, so if you'd excuse me for a moment," says David Yoder, a retired Marines Veteran.
The Mason-Dixon Welcome Center held an open house to honor Veterans, and it wasn't just families who came to pay tribute.
"A lot of times people forget that we're really the land of the free because of the brave. I think just now the world's starting to recognize how important they are and the things that they do, and i just wanted to help honor them; without them we wouldn't be where we are today."
David Yoder manages the Welcome Center. He served in the Marines during the Persian Gulf War and now his son is in the Navy's boot camp.
"It's easy to send someone else's kids off to war, and it's easy to send someone off to do something that you don't do, but I would never do anything that I wouldn't ask anybody else to do, but I think the President now is doing a great job," says Yoder.
Other Veterans believe those in office are too disconnected from the military.
"I personally feel that any president that serves this country should have served in some branch of the military," says Yoachim.
But all Veterans say they're thankful to be honored for their services today.
