(Branson, MO) -- Americans are remembering those who risked their lives to protect our freedoms.  Silver Dollar City in Branson is throwing a special Veterans Day celebration today.  Rob Evans is there this morning with Lt. Col. Oliver North, who is in Branson for the Marine Corp Birthday Ball and Veterans Day events.

Rob - Fox and Friends are broadcasting nationally from Silver Dollar City, and Lt. Col. Oliver North, a Fox correspondent, joins us.  You do things all across the globe for veterans.  How does Branson stack up? It seems you're here every year for Veterans Day.

Col. North - It's the biggest veterans gathering in America. And I think that's because veterans feel welcome here.  This is a patriotic city.  Here we are in the middle of Silver Dollar City and Branson. There's no place like this. There's no place where veterans come with their families and enjoy such a gracious hospitality as you all offer here.

Rob - You served our country your entire life, pretty much.  What does this day, especially, mean for you?
Col. North - Well, I'm the son of a veteran. All of my brothers served in the military.  All my uncles served in World War II, Korea, or both.  To me, this is a day when we honor those who put the uniform on, whether war or in peace.  They come from every walk of life in America.  And hopefully, every American will walk up to a veteran and say, 'thank you for your service.' Because that does mean something. It's the reason why the rest of us can speak as we please, come and go as we want, protect our freedoms.  They're the ones who did it.

Rob - Have you had that as an individual? Have someone come up and say thank you?  How does that feel?
Col. North - Of course, these days people see me as a TV guy, but I spent my life in the Marines and had the great blessing of leading people in combat.  Those with whom I served, we thank each other, particularly the Marine Corp birthday like we celebrated last night.  I see young Americans in airports, coming and going in uniform from Afghanistan and Iraq. And I walk up to them all, some of whom know me, some of whom don't, and I say 'thank you for your service.'  Because it really is the essence of service, is to put on a uniform and to go into harm's way. They're all American heroes and their families are too.

Rob - We're celebrating Veterans day, but I have to ask you - this war we are in, is it a winnable war?  After what happened at Fort Hood last week - is it winnable?
Col. North - There's no doubt we're up against an implacable, vicious enemy.  Fort Hood and 9-11 obviously show that.  Second, this is winnable. The current campaign in the shadows of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan can be won.  The definition of victory is a stable Afghan government that is pro-American, doesn't allow terrorism and respects the rights of its own people.  It's not going to be a Jeffersonian democracy, but it is going to be the kind of place where we can know they're not going to grow another 9-11 attack.  I don't think you can get there without giving Gen. McChrystal what he needs to win.  And Lord knows we don't need to be piece-mealing troops into a place where we don't intend to win.  That would be another Vietnam and that would be terrible.