A Message to the Residents of the Town of Ausable on Veterans Day

Dear Residents, Neighbors and Friends of Ausable,

Today, on Veterans Day, our nation pauses to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. In the Town of Ausable—where the Ausable River meets Lake Champlain, where generations have fished, farmed, and built lives rooted in hard work and quiet pride—we know the meaning of service.

To every veteran who calls Ausable home: thank you.

Thank you to the World War II veterans who left home to storm beaches and liberate nations.
Thank you to the Korean War veterans who stood watch on frozen hills half a world away.
Thank you to the Vietnam veterans who came home to a country that didn’t always understand, yet still chose to serve their communities here in Clinton County.
Thank you to the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq veterans—many of you still young—who traded the comfort of the Adirondack foothills for desert sands and mountain passes.
Thank you to every peacetime veteran who kept the watch so the rest of us could sleep soundly.

Your service was not abstract. It had a face, a name, a family left waiting in Keeseville or in a farmhouse off the Union Road. It meant missing birthdays, holidays, and the simple rhythm of life along Route 9. It meant carrying burdens—seen and unseen—long after the uniform came off.

This Veterans Day, we see you.
We see you at the various events at VFW Post 1505.
We see you coaching Little League and soccer at Jaycee Park.
We see you volunteering at the Keeseville Fire Department.
We see you working at our town highway department.
We see you serving, once again, by volunteering on various committees.
We see you quietly helping a neighbor shovel out after a nor’easter.

You are the heartbeat of Ausable.

Ways to Honor Our Veterans Today:

• Attend a Ceremony or pay respects at a local cemetery
• Visit a Veteran: Stop by the home of an elderly neighbor who served. A cup of coffee and a “thank you” mean more than you know.
• Fly Your Flag: Display the Stars and Stripes proudly.
• Support Local Veteran Organizations: Consider a donation to a veterans service agency or a local food pantry, which supports many veteran families.

To the families—the spouses, children, and parents who served on the home front—your sacrifice is part of this story too. You kept the lights on, the fields tended, and the prayers constant. We honor you as well.

As the sun sets over the river tomorrow, let’s remember: freedom isn’t free, but in Ausable, gratitude is abundant.

With deepest respect,
-Tim