Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11, marks yet another Veteran’s Day. This day of remembrance has, at its origin, the celebration of the date on which an enemy of the United States signed an Armistice to end the First Great War at 11:00 am November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). In November of 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:
“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
Armistice Day was made a legal holiday by an Act of Congress approved on May 13, 1938 as a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.”
Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I. However, in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by replacing the word “Armistice” with the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
The most important thing to know and understand about Veteran’s Day is the blood and sacrifice of those who willingly went into harm’s way to protect the freedom of America and defend our way of life. The valor, courage and sacrifice made by the men and women of our Armed Forces must never be forgotten. The struggles of these individuals can never be fully repaid, as noted by President Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address,
“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we cannot consecrate – we cannot hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”
Even so, no matter how difficult it might be to repay those who served on our behalf, it is our never-ending responsibility to fully recognize these individuals and do what we each can do to show them our appreciation and thanks. And this effort to show appreciation and thanks should happen every day, and not just on this one very special day.
Happy Veteran’s Day!
