PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Today, Veterans Day, was a day to say “thank you” to American service personnel from the past and present.

At a ceremony Friday at the National Constitution Center, there was a wreath-laying ceremony in which Karen Fink (above) took part. She is an eight-year Army veteran, who served in Operation Desert Storm. She is now the director of human resources at the Constitution Center.

“It’s just a nice way for us to honor people who have served and continue to serve,” she tells KYW Newsradio, “and I think it’s even more important now, when so many service people are still overseas and still fighting.”

Five-year-old Lauren Webber of Chestnut Hill (below) was saying thank-you to a service man or woman by writing a note at the Soldier Mail Call table — “to thank the soldier for fighting in the country,” she explained.

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(Lauren Webber writes to an American service member. Credit: John McDevitt)

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Meanwhile, the new exhibit, “Fighting for Democracy” (photo below, see related story), featuring a diverse group of seven Americans from the World War II era, was popular.

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(The exhibit "Fighting For Democracy" will be at the NCC through January 16th, 2012. Credit: John McDevitt)

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And there were talks going on throughout the afternoon at the Constitution Center, given by veterans sharing their experiences in the armed services.

Reported by John McDevitt, KYW Newsradio 1060