Mike See personifies the word service.

The 73-year-old bravely served his country in Vietnam. He continues to serve his community and fellow veterans just as courageously by fighting for their rights and their respect right here at home.

We applaud See and all the other individuals who volunteer their time in the community to truly make it a better place, especially when it comes to supporting the men and women who have served our nation proudly.

For See, it was simply a matter of identifying a problem and taking action to help solve it. He didn’t wait on the government. He didn’t point a finger at others. Even when homeless for a period of time, he didn’t feel sorry for himself.

See spends lots of his time and energy collecting items for homeless shelters and other veterans in need. He is always seeking assistance. To donate items for distribution to veterans in need, bring them to the Winchester Elks Lodge, 225 Shoppers Drive, or VFW Post 2728, 124 Mt. Sterling Road.

For his hard work and commitment to veterans, See was awarded the 2016-2017 Veteran Volunteer Award from the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, where he also works as custodian.

All of our nation’s veterans, whether they fought during peace or war time, deserve our appreciation and respect.

It has often been said that freedom isn’t free. Truer words may have never been spoken.

Freedom is paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of so many of our nation’s veterans. Their sacrifices have bought the liberties we all enjoy and hold so dear.

For their service, and all those like See do to continue to make a difference, we are thankful and can only do our best to show that appreciation each and every day.