The first time Royal High School librarian Susan Piercy put out a call for pictures of veterans to be honored at the school's Veterans Day celebration, I wondered just how good the response would be.

On Friday of last week, six pictures had been delivered. With permission, Susan had taken another four off of Facebook.

Not bad. Actually better than I expected. But I suspect that number falls short of the actual number of veterans on the Royal Slope.

If you have or had a veteran in your family, please send Susan the picture. Believe me, your veteran will appreciate it. Make the time to honor him or her.

My brother Richard and I both served during the time of Vietnam. He actually went to war in the US Army. I had it easy. I was a member of the Air Force Band of the Pacific Northwest.

My wife Pat also served. She was not in the regular Army but in the Army Reserves, and she is fiercely proud of that service.

Pat's brothers Richard and David served in the Army during Vietnam. Richard fought in Vietnam at the same time my brother did.

Every two years at our family reunion, cousin Josie posts pictures of all the veterans in the family. They are many, from a WWII combat veteran to a current U.S. Navy Seal.

Cousin Josie painstakingly organizes a Wall of Honor that family members read from beginning to end. You can feel the pride among those who served and those who are related.

Although my job in the military was easy, I was proud to wear the uniform and still am today. My Air Force picture stands prominently among the family photographs.

Our children know Pat and I are proud of our time in service. They reminded us of that on one of the occasions when we visited Disneyland.

We were at a concert performed by the Disneyland Band, and it closed the show with the same medley of military marches my band had played in the Air Force.

As the band went from the "Halls of Montezuma" to the "Wild Blue Yonder," veterans of each military service in the audience were asked to stand. The kids watched to see if Pat and I would do it, and they encouraged us with a nudge.

Pat was in tears as she stood. She was touched by the fact her kids were proud of her service.

My chest swelled when I stood up, and I couldn't hold back the tears. I, too, was happy my kids cared.