GIVING THANKS TO TRUCKERS AND VETERANS.

Byline: -- Rick Coca

I've always had a deep admiration for two seemingly different professions: truckers and armed service personnel.

My father was both and taught me to respect the job that both those professions provided.

When I was a kid, we'd drive to Denver from Los Angeles each summer, and I used sweat every time we'd passed a behemoth 16-wheeler, knowing my young precious life was about to end.

``Don't worry son,'' my father would say reassuringly. ``They know what they're doing.'' He'd also tell me that even though some people don't like sharing the road with big rigs, the things they haul fill our bellies and generally make our lives better.

The same thing can be said about soldiers -- necessary but not always appreciated.

My father's `war stories' about the Korean War were often full of laughter as he'd remember the bonding experience he shared with his comrades during ``the best years of his life.''

Other times, he'd fight back tears as he'd recalled his young friends that died in the brutality that war often is.

The current conflict in Iraq has once again brought war and those who serve in the armed forces to the forefront of the American consciousness. < The one thing we can all agree on is we can respect and honor the thousands of men and women serving in that conflict. Let's keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

And this Veterans Day, let's also keep in our thoughts and prayers the millions of veterans here at home with us.

Please read two excellent pieces about veterans in this issue: Evelyn Catron's on page 4 and Cile Borman's on page 6.

And if you have a moment, pick up the phone, call a veteran and say the same thing I'll say to my father.

Thanks.