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Sacrifice.

According to one of its many definitions in the American Heritage Dictionary, it means: "Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim."

That does not say enough when trying to define what our armed service men have done for us throughout U.S. history.

It might be cliche, but it's true: They have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Too rarely do they get their deserved recognition, let alone the service and care they have rightly earned through their years of service.

Because of the latter point, the news of a community based outreach clinic coming to Craig after years of lobbying is more than good news.

It's needed news.

An estimated 4,200 veterans live in Northwest Colorado, and with the current set-up, that means most of them went to Grand Junction or Denver for medical services.

The estimated 300-mile round trips to Grand Junction and longer trips to the Mile High City could take eight to 10 hours a day.

Before the announcement, there were limited resources in Colorado for vets: two VA hospitals and 11 community-based out-patient centers -- none in northwest Colorado.

That simply is not right.

We can do better for those who gave it their all.

And who knows what it could develop into in the future if the clinic gets a large response from vets in Moffat, Routt and Rio Blanco counties, as well as Carbon County, Wyo. Perhaps a bigger, better clinic for our vets?

The new clinic is a start. It is scheduled to open in the fall and will operate five days a week. It will provide an opportunity for convenient healthcare for those who need it most.

Our veterans.

Perhaps U.S. Rep John Salazar put it best.

"Our veterans are the ones who are willing to put their lives on the line and give their country everything they have to give," said Salazar, a veteran and a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. "Now it is our turn to look out for them."