The election is over. Whether you voted blue or red, you participated in the American process. Our forefathers fought for the right to have their votes counted and their voices heard.

The estimated price of American democracy was the death or wounding of 50,000 colonial soldiers. Many died from smallpox.

According to CNN’s Web site, Nov. 1 statistics report the death of 4,809 American soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan. The official number of wounded soldiers is around 30,000. As of Sept. 4, National Public Radio reported that 174,000 Americans were fighting in both countries.

On Veteran’s Day, we need to transform our American Support Our Troops motto into real action.
At noon Saturday, Nov. 8, there will be a Welcome Home Veterans party at the Glendale Heights VFW Post 2377, 142 E. Army Trail Road.

On Monday, Nov. 10, members of Bloomingdale VFW Post 7539 will participate in Visit with a Veteran at Roy DeShane School in Carol Stream.

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, a Veteran’s Day Ceremony will occur at St. Paul’s Evergreen Cemetery on Lake Street in Bloomingdale. The cemetery is the final resting place of veterans dating back to the Civil War.

The annual ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. This commemorates the exact time and day (the 11th day of the 11th month) that world leaders signed the World War I armistice.

Meanwhile in Glendale Heights, members of VFW Post 2377 will hold their 11 a.m. ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, 220 Civic Center Plaza. The park still has memorial bricks available for purchase. This makes a great Christmas gift.

Speaking of Christmas, the Village of Glendale Heights is collecting cards and letters for troops overseas. Please drop off your messages of love, support and gratitude by Monday. The village will mail the letters overseas in time for the holidays. For information, call (630) 909-5302.

Christmas is synonymous with the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots collection. Maj. Bill Hendricks and his fellow servicemen began collecting toys for needy children in 1947. Since then, the Marines have collected 370 million toys for 173 million needy American children.

The DuPage County Toys for Tots contact is retired Marine officer Javier Martinez. Last year, Martinez was thrilled to receive toys generously donated by local Lions Club leaders who opted out of a personal Christmas gift exchange in lieu of donating toys for needy children.

Any organization or individual interested in contributing unwrapped toys can contact Toys for Tots through www.toysfortots.org/default.asp.