“Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.” –John F Kennedy.

If you read this early enough, consider going to the Wyoming Valley Veterans Day Parade, which starts in Kingston at 2 p.m. and heads along Market Street to Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square.

Please don’t let the threat of a shower keep you at home. Grab an umbrella and/or a good raincoat, put on a pair of waterproof shoes and go take a look.

View the many units of men and women currently serving in our military branches. Watch as people wave small versions of the Stars and Stripes along the route. Watch as the young people smile and perhaps run outside to grab some treats tossed their way by the parade participants. Watch as viewers thank – loudly or silently – those who risk their lives for our democracy.

You see very old and very young in the parade. Feel the dedication that those who served long ago still wear like an invisible and indelible uniform, and notice how proudly some children hold their banners or flags, determined to go the distance with their assigned weights.

The plan calls for seven divisions, representing dozens of organizations and individuals, from active duty units to retired GIs, from Boy Scouts to Daisy Troops, from the Shriners to the Red Hat Society.

High school bands, dogs, bikers, car clubs and of course ambulance and fire companies; the diversity of units is a big part of the appeal. This also applies to the reactions of parade viewers.

Attending the Veterans Day Parade can do more than show gratitude to the men and women who have answered the call of military duty, past and present. It can deepen your gratitude. It can remind you of everything they risk, everything they may have to do, their training and preparedness.

At the same time, the wide range of units passing by is America incarnate. It’s not just the protectors, but what they protect. It is a cross-section of our way of life, a rich sample of our community and nation. It is a reminder of all the good things, and of good people, who often go unappreciated or even unnoticed. It’s a show of impartiality: thanking veterans, showing appreciation, this should be the most universal common ground we can all stand on.

Maybe you start to feel that warm comfort in your chest, that lump in your throat, or even a few tears welling up. Embrace those feelings and remember them in the weeks and months ahead. It’s what our veterans deserve, it’s what their service earned.

If you stay long enough, you’ll see the military units that marched early in line from Wilkes-Barre back to Kingston. Notice when someone still in the parade marches by with a large American flag, notice how many of those in uniform stop to salute and then resume their little march.

Think of their striking involvement in our country, both abstract ideals and daily reality. Because one of the best ways to thank veterans, besides attending the parade that honors them, is by living a life worthy of their sacrifices. We end as we began, with a quote from JFK:

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation does not consist in uttering words, but in living them.”