Service Means Sacrifice: Working on Holidays

(Originally published September 2, 2025) When I was deployed, holidays looked different. Instead of a family cookout back home, we had steak and lobster in the chow hall. Instead of laughter around the table, we stood in line waiting for our turn on the phone—knowing we’d miss another holiday with the people we loved.

That’s because service means sacrifice. Veterans know it well.

But they’re not the only ones. In senior living communities, hospitals, and care facilities across the country, CNAs, nurses, chefs, maintenance workers, and countless others quietly embody that same spirit. While many of us gather with our families, they are present with those who can’t be home—making sure meals are served, rooms are cared for, and loved ones are never alone.

Their work often goes unnoticed. Families may not think about the person who made sure their loved one’s dinner was hot, or who fixed the light in the hallway, or who offered a kind word when loneliness hit hardest. But those small acts are what give dignity to people who can’t always speak for themselves.

Working on holidays isn’t glamorous. It’s often lonely. But it’s also sacred work. It’s what keeps communities safe, nourished, and connected. Veterans carried that spirit in uniform. Caregivers carry it now in scrubs, aprons, and tool belts.

So as you enjoy this holiday weekend, remember the veterans who have given up holidays in service—and the caregivers who continue that service today. Their sacrifice allows us to celebrate ours.

Gratitude costs nothing, but for them, it means everything. Thank you for your sacrificial service.

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