Veneration of Mary - Why?

I am a protestant. The following answer has helped me. Maybe it can help you to understand too...

Question: How do you suggest we Catholics explain our veneration of Mary to Protestants who ask us about her and her role in the Scriptures?
Answer: Sacred Scripture is clear on Mary's significance and her honored place in God's plan of Salvation. The Incarnation could not have occurred without Mary's obedient "Let it be with me according to your word"(Lk 1:38b). But as important as Mary is, she always points away from herself and to her Son, "Do whatever he tells you"(Jn 2:5b). This makes her precious to us, because she leads us to her Son. We also know that, as the Mother of our Lord, Mary has an honored place in God's kingdom. Like all saints whom the Church believes to be in heaven, she is a tremendous intercessor for us. As our Lord was dying on the cross, he gave his Mother to "the disciple who he loved," as our Mother (John 19:26). After all, if you need a favor from someone, who better to have pleading your case than your mother? This is another reason we have profound respect for Mary. As a Redemptorist, I could not close without mentioning one of Mary's most revered titles, Our Mother of Perpetual Help. We do not pray to Mary, we pray through our Mother Mary, and like any good and loving mother, she is always there to help us.

(From Dear Padre, 30 Dec 2007 Issue)