Today is Veteran’s Day. The West has a lot to be thankful for… I have a lot to be thankful for.

The fact that people do not venerate our heroes from every single conflict can be traced back to some very bad PR from LIFE magazine during the war in Vietnam. Out of the number of WWII veterans I have known, two remain standing. Albert Miglio is one of these men. Artist, friend, New Yorker, combat veteran, he also possesses a unique appreciation for the gifts of Greek civilization. My recent visit to the war museum in Crete has also provided food for reflection on this day.

Click the image below for a PDF of truly unforgettable imagery taken by a forgotten LIFE Magazine photographer, prior to the involvement of the United States in World War II.

I also appreciate the effectiveness of some of the images as an anti-ad campaign for Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. Could never understand why so many of my friends and their parents purchased either brand for transportation.

Freedom isn’t free. Thank the veterans around you and those who serve now.