Early Saturday, four Americans were killed in a suicide bomb attack at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, and the bombing injured at least 16 more people.

This sobering tragedy brings to light the reasons why Americans took a moment to honor its veterans — active or retired, fallen or surviving — on Friday as part of Veterans Day.

After the Iraq and Afghanistan wars began 15 years ago, the public was privy to a barrage of reports from the media regarding fallen U.S. soldiers and rampant violence in the Middle East. That’s still largely the case today, but unfortunately, the general public has become almost numb to these reports. It’s almost impossible not to.

The recent attack at Bagram is a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by those protecting freedom. It is not something to which someone should become numb. Members of the military are actively making sacrifices each and every day and laying their lives on the line.

Don’t just write off Veterans Day as a 24-hour time slot. The spirit of Veterans Day should be remembered every day of the year, not just Nov. 11, 2016.

Beaufort County may not have the military bases that Goldsboro, Jacksonville or Fayetteville have, but it is home to many brave veterans who do not receive enough thanks.

These brave men and women are part of the American fabric, no matter if one is living in bustling cities or the quiet, rural areas of Beaufort County. Americans should not only be reminded of these sacrifices on a federal holiday or after a tragedy. It should be in the forefront of minds every day.

While running errands around town or heading into the workday, don’t forget to thank a veteran. Without these heroes, there is no freedom; there is no safety; there is no America.