Just before Veterans Day in 2012, the mother of a severely wounded American soldier took me inside a rehab facility at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. I will never forget what I saw that day.

About a half-dozen young heroes were learning to walk with prosthetic legs. As doctors, nurses and family members gave them guidance and encouragement, these combat veterans inspired me with more than their valiant efforts. Many were also smiling.

Veterans Day is about more than shopping discounts or a day off work. It’s a time to honor every man and woman who has worn a U.S. military uniform. For me, Veterans Day is also a time of prayer.

I’m praying for all of America’s wounded warriors, as well as their family members and caregivers.

I’m praying for Nick Vogt and his family, including his wonderful mother, Sheila, who brought me to the Walter Reed rehab center. Nick, an Ohio native, lost both legs in a 2012 explosion in Afghanistan. I’ll always remember meeting him at Walter Reed and marveling at the youthful hero’s courage, strength and optimism.

I’m praying for Rusty Dunagan, who lost an arm and both legs in 2010, also in Afghanistan. As the Oklahoma native endured countless surgeries, his family asked the surrounding community to pray for Rusty. Countless prayers would follow, which made Rusty feel like thousands of people were holding the only hand he had left.

I’m praying for Jennifer Loredo, who reminds me of Supergirl. Jennifer is not only a veteran, but tragically lost her husband, Eddie, while both were serving in Afghanistan. Jennifer is a truly courageous veteran, Gold Star wife and mother. All young women should follow her example.

I’m praying for Tim Fallon, who I met in 2011. While serving in Afghanistan a year earlier, Tim was hit by an explosion that left him legally blind. When we subsequently spoke, however, the combat veteran’s biggest concern wasn’t for his vision. It was for the families of two fellow Marines who were killed in action after he was flown out of Afghanistan.

“I wasn’t there for my Marines,” Tim told me in early 2012. “That’s always tortured me a little bit.”

Tim’s words are a reminder to pray for all of our nation’s veterans, not just those who have been physically wounded. Many, including several I have spoken with, carry invisible wounds and painful memories of friends who didn’t make it home from the battlefield. Even after meeting and speaking with dozens of these heroes, it’s impossible to imagine what they feel on a daily basis.

I’m praying for thousands of veterans who are still waiting to receive the medical care and respect they so richly deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. I’m also praying for politicians to set aside their differences and fix this ongoing national disgrace. There is no more solemn, crucial obligation for the U.S. government than caring for the brave men and women who answered the call to serve.

I’m praying for veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm and every modern conflict. While Afghanistan and Iraq have been the military’s focal point for the past 14-plus years, we must continue remembering the sacrifices of previous generations.

I’m also praying for the American people to recognize that at this very moment, our country’s next generation of veterans is serving in dangerous places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Incredibly, some of these volunteer warriors were in preschool when the Twin Towers fell. They need our prayers, today and every day.

I don’t pray for our current and future veterans out of pity. I pray because veterans have put their lives on the line — and in thousands of cases, made the ultimate sacrifice ¯ to shield the rest of us from danger.  To me, that’s what makes Veterans Day so special.

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Tom Sileo is a senior editor of The Stream and co-author of Brothers Forever: The Enduring Bond between a Marine and a Navy SEAL that Transcended their Ultimate Sacrifice.