If you happen to see your friends or colleagues dressed for military service instead of office or work attire Nov. 9, don’t be surprised. Veterans Day isn’t until Saturday, Nov. 11, but a new proclamation from Gov. Kay Ivey declares Thursday as Military Day — a “commitment to those who serve and those who have served.”

Part of that commitment is the governor’s call for “employers across the state to show support and cooperation by allowing military employees the opportunity to wear their uniforms, as a token of appreciation for their service and as a symbol with the military community.”

With that muster, Ivey has elevated Alabama to the head of even the most pro-military states in the nation, potentially crafting a mass visual representation of the commitments made by those who work to defend the United States at all times — whether in times of war or times of peace.

Whether active duty veterans and their employers will comply with the proclamation, or whether it is something itself that will be largely symbolic, remains to be seen.

But what is clear is that the spirit of the proclamation is a strong signal of support for those who serve our nation.

On Saturday, by all means, thank a veteran. But in advance of that, let us follow the final dictum of the Military Day proclamation “to take a moment to pray for our military members” … and then, “to thank them for their service.”