Home - Contact Us - Cold War Hist. - 91st SRS Hist. - Stardust 40 Mission Story
RB-29 Crew Hist. - Hiking Rural Japan - Extended Stories - Short Stories
Biographical Notes - Current Commentary - Art Gallery - Fun Stuff - Education
Programs - Locator- Reunions - Memorials - Cold War Museum Web Site

---

A Day For Veterans

As you browse through a calendar, you see many holidays that represent many things from our history that are remembered in our 21st century world. Holidays that are meant to celebrate everything from the life of early explorers and great presidents to the Irish heritage and celebrations of the Christian faith. No matter what these holidays were originally meant to celebrate, some pass unseen for the most part and others are an excuse for a day off or to receive a gift.

Many federal holidays honor the origins and history of our country. That is one common denominator in holidays, most are meant to celebrate the past. One of these days that pass virtually unseen, except for lucky persons who get the day off and the people it is meant to honor, is Veteran’s Day. This day is meant to celebrate both the past and present. The question is, where did the holiday come from and why should we celebrate veterans?

Eighty-five years ago, on November the 11th, 1918, the world celebrated and was thankful. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month the world uttered a simultaneous, collective sigh of relief. The Allied forces, including the United States, signed a cease-fire agreement with Germany on that day at Rethondes, France, which signaled the end of World War I. This had been the war to end all wars, with unprecedented death and destruction. Over eight million combatants had been killed. Never before had the world known this level of carnage, and with a great amount of the world involved the populations of these countries read it in the papers and knew of the details. Now that the Alliance, which was Germany and Austria-Hungary, had been defeated a great peace would come across the earth. How could it be any different?

In the United States, one year after the end of the war, a day was set aside to honor the great sacrifices made by the men and women who served in that war. They had fought and died to ensure a lasting peace and we felt that they should be recognized and remembered. Armistice Day was first celebrated on November 11, 1919 and the soldiers who had survived the horrors of the European trench war were to march through the streets of their hometowns to remember all who had gone to fight. Ceremonies were held to thank the veterans for the peace they had won, complete with speeches from politicians and military officers.

It wasn’t until 1938 that Armistice Day became a federal holiday. As Congress voted to create the new status, America was beginning to realize that the lasting peace was coming to an end. World War II began the following year, with our fighting men and women waiting a few years, but again becoming involved in a bloody, global conflict of good versus evil. After our second victory in Europe and victory in the Pacific, Armistice Day continued to be celebrated on November 11th.

In the aftermath of the Korean War, Emporia, Kansas renamed the holiday Veteran’s Day to give thanks to all of the city’s veterans. The city felt that all veterans deserved the same recognition. A Kansas congressman brought the movement to Washington, and in a short time the holiday was redesignated Veteran’s Day all across the United States. On November 11, 1954, the first Veteran’s Day was celebrated nationally in gratitude for all the veterans of all the wars.

This was an era when every American understood how important service to your country was and the impact that the American fighting man had on our world and us. People of all walks of life appreciated those who had preserved their freedom as they lived in the safety that we all are fortunate to share. The threats of the Kaiser, Hitler, and Hirohito were felt during the great wars, and we were all thankful to those who had defeated them and their heinous plans for world domination.

In 1971, then President Richard Nixon moved the holiday so that it was celebrated on the second Monday in November of each year. In keeping with tradition, at 11:00 a moment of silence is observed to remember all those who fought for our freedom. Ceremonies are still held, and speeches still given, but how many of us realize it?

One of the factors that reduced the visibility of Veterans Day was the fallout from the Vietnam War. The public’s misconceptions about our involvement in Vietnam lessened the emphasis on living veterans and military life in general, thus pushing the holiday to the brink of obscurity. The veterans of the Vietnam War were told not to wear their uniforms upon returning to their own country after serving it in wartime. The abuses placed on these honorable servicemen were shameful. This is an unfortunate side effect because the freedoms and benefits of being an American are owed to all of our veterans. The idealistic foundation of our country was only realized due to our ability to protect ourselves from our enemies throughout the 226 years that our country has existed. Without our military we would not enjoy the freedoms we have today.

The United States is presently at war. It is not a conventional war, not one that fills the newspapers or gives us great video like the Gulf War did. It is not a global conflict such as World War I or World War II nor is it a forgotten war such as the Korean War or a protested war such as the Vietnam War. This war does not bring great attention to itself. Even as our servicemen are pursuing the enemy you have to search long and hard to find any information about it. The one unfortunate similarity to those past wars is that young Americans are abroad in the world, becoming battle hardened veterans and statistical casualties.

As more than a year has passed since the terrorist attacks that shocked us all, we have returned to our fast paced, get it while you can lifestyle. The threats felt in the aftermath of the attacks are all but gone. Most of the younger generations have no idea of the price that was paid by our veterans, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and those who survived to return home and try to just forget the horrors of war. We must also remember those that served during peacetime, risking themselves to remain vigilant and prepared for anything in an always-dangerous world.

On Veteran‘s Day and Memorial Day, the paper poppies made by disabled veterans and sold by the American Legion and VFW have their roots in World War I. They were inspired by the red wildflowers in Flanders Field, Belgium, where a bloody battle was fought with a terrible cost to human life.

So on Veteran’s Day this year, take time to think of those who earned you your freedom and to thank a veteran in your family or community. Sometimes the smallest effort means the most.