For over forty years, I have passionately advocated for my friends and neighbors whose legal rights had been challenged or violated. To me, the individual freedoms of the American people, and the democracy at their foundation, are sacrosanct. And so, not a day goes by without feeling great reverence to the men and women whose service and sacrifice have allowed our liberty to endure: our veterans.

Unfortunately, many of us—myself included—do not do enough to express our gratitude for our veterans and their service to our country. With Veterans Day just around the corner, there is no better time than the present to rectify this. Whether it’s by joining in this weekend’s Veterans Day Salute at Williams-Brice Stadium, donating to an organization such as Wounded Warrior Project or Semper Fi Fund, or placing a phone call to the vets in your life just to say thank you, please take the time this week to salute our nation’s veterans.

Finally, to the veterans reading this KellyGram: from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your service.