SGM Mark D. Baylis knows the importance of honoring our military veterans.

He has served deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq, South America, Cambodia, Thailand and India.

He has seen the good and the bad of war.

On Thursday, Baylis was the main speaker during Carbon County’s Veterans Day program, held in Josiah White Park.

“I’m glad to see that people care enough about the people who stand up for the country,” he said, noting that his mother was a war orphan. “... I have always viewed Veterans Day a little bit differently than some. I grew up with the stories of her father passing away when she was 4 after he was shot down and the sole survivor came back and married my grandmother and raised my mother as his own then took his own life on the anniversary of the shoot down. Before he died, he used to tell me stories about people. He said there are good people and bad people everywhere and that it’s important to defend the freedom for people to be free to enjoy safety and be safe and warm. ... Veterans keep us safe.”

Baylis spoke about his deployment to Afghanistan soon after the attacks of 9/11.

One thing stuck out to him during that time, because the American troops were viewed as a country’s hope against the Taliban.

On his last check of the area troops secured before leaving the country, Baylis saw two women, dressed in burqas, one black and one white.

“The thing that stuck out to me was in a country where we were hated so much that they sent people to knock down our buildings, we were also viewed as a symbol of hope,” he said. “The symbolism of how grateful they were that we were there was on the girl in the white burqa. It was so thread bare that it was see through and what she wore underneath was an American flag.”

He said that it was in that moment that he realized just how much America means to the normal citizens of countries ruled by evil.

As a way to thank veterans, Baylis started the Valor Clinic Foundation in Kunkletown and works to help the men and women who have served.

Following his speech, Jeanette Richards, who works for Matrix Medical Network, addressed the audience and asked that Baylis join her at the podium.

She then presented him with a check for $5,000 for the Valor Clinic from the Matrix Medical Network Foundation.

Other speakers of the service included state Rep. Doyle Heffley, who spoke about the importance of honoring our military veterans because without them, America wouldn’t be what it is today.

Brad Hurley, representing Sen. David Argall’s office; and Carol Etheridge of Congresswoman Susan Wild’s office, echoed Heffley’s thoughts, each having their own stories of family and friends who served in the military.

Carbon County Commissioner Rocky Ahner, representing the board of commissioners, said that Veterans Day should not be celebrated just one day a year, but rather every day because we could stand freely because of the sacrifices and services veterans have made for this country.

The event also included musical selections by Angela Nardini and Richards; as well as a gun salute and taps.