I've spent my entire professional career studying investments in some way, shape, or form.
This includes hundreds of commercial real estate (CRE) opportunities and thousands of companies. So I’ve seen a whole lot of value and profit and potential along the way.
Yet this Veterans’ Day, I'm reminded that America’s greatest investment wasn't made on Wall Street. It was made by millions of brave souls who were willing to sacrifice everything they had – their comfort, security, and even their lives – for our collective freedom.
I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this here before, but my father, William Carl Thomas, was a U.S. Army veteran. He graduated from Fork Union Military Academy and then attended The Citadel, South Carolina’s military college, before serving as a radio communications specialist with the legendary 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
My dad was honorably discharged as a Specialist Fourth Class, leaving me with an automatic respect for the U.S. military. He’s no doubt part of why I ended up spending four years in ROTC.
I learned so much there about discipline, responsibility, leadership, and service. And while I ultimately chose a career in business and investing, I’ve never lost my appreciation for those lessons.
Or my respect for our armed forces.
I know we investors spend so much time thinking about risk and reward – as well we should. But our military men and women take these concepts to a whole new level.
Throughout the history of our country, they’ve left their homes and families behind to defend the American way. Many of them traveled far outside their comfort homes to places they’d never seen before.
What they experienced there often changed them forever, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Others, we should never forget, lost their lives in those far-off lands.
That’s why we also can’t forget the sacrifices their families made. They deserve our respect and gratitude, too.
Because of what these fellow Americans gave, the rest of us get to surrender far less as we raise our own families… pursue our dreams… practice our faith… and try to build a better future for the next generation.
These priceless freedoms come at an extraordinary cost. Which is why I want to set financial assets aside today and simply say thank you.
Thank you to my father, to his fellow veterans past and present, and to their families who stood beside them. Their courage and sacrifice are the greatest investments America has ever made, and the resulting dividends are enormously rich.
God bless our veterans.
And God bless America.
Brad Thomas,
Editor, Wide Moat Daily
