Thursday, March 28, 2024

Veterans Day

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Nov. 11, 1921 was the first Veterans Day. Armistice Day, as it was then called, was set aside by Congress to honor the veterans of World War I, & marked the 4th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice with Germany. In June 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill to honor all veterans on that day and the holiday was officially renamed Veterans Day.

Many Americans, once a widely celebrated holiday, increasingly forget Veterans Day. To help counter this trend, VFW has long promoted Veterans Day as an opportunity to educate the public as to the meaning of this significant time each November. This task can best by accomplished by explaining the five "W's."

WHO; as a nation, we remember all Americans who served on active duty in the armed forces. While those who died always remain prominent in our memories, they have a special time of mourning reserved for Memorial Day. Veterans Day is an opportunity to publicly commemorate the contributions of living veterans.

WHAT; collective as well as individual contributions to the nation's defense are what we are remembering. The outcome of any given military campaign is irrelevant here - it's the sacrifices made at the behest of the country that are important.

WHERE; across the land, the grounds of virtually every state capitol and county courthouse host monuments, memorials and plaques honoring those who served. They date back as far as the American Revolution and are as recent as the Iraq War. But paying homage to veterans need not necessarily be in a public place. Every private home also should serve this purpose.

WHEN; for some Americans, remembering veterans is a daily act. But as a nation, it is essential that we preserve the integrity of Nov. 11 as that one extra-special day for the American people as a whole to pause in silence or demonstrate public recognition.

WHY; Remembering gives true meaning to sacrifice and service. Millions of Americans' lives were forever altered because they donned a uniform to protect the freedoms and rights we take for granted. We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to them. And acknowledging Veterans Day is the time that debt comes due. It's our way of keeping faith.

Please take the time to locate and personally thank the veterans within your family, neighborhood and community. They are the true American heroes! Following is a Veterans Day tribute written by my grandson Mike Beem when he was 9 years old (he is now 21).

"Veterans Day means a lot to me because the people who fought in the wars gave freedom to us and served our country. Veterans Day is the day our country pays tribute to the men and women who have served our country in war and peace times" by Michael Beem.
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