Veterans Day: The 11th Hour, 11th Day, and 11th Month

Some of us remember why holidays or observations are important, or at least important enough to designate a day of the year to it. When we ask kids if they know the meaning, most will contend it’s a day they don’t have to go to school, or align it with another day, out of confusion. To clarify to our young and the folks who don’t give it much thought, and in honor of our veterans who’ve served and risked it all, we want to explain to our local community what it means to us.

We have two major holidays honoring those who served. Memorial Day, for those who died for The United States of America, and Veterans Day, for those who bravely served in the armed forces for The United States of America. Many in this country who’ve served have been forgotten or lost in the cracks, and although we’ll leave politics out of this, it’s a shame for the ones who fought and volunteered to protect our great country and go widely unappreciated.

After World War I (most hostilities ended with the German signing of the Armistice, on the 11th hour, 11th day and the 11th month in 1918), Veterans Day was on its way to being observed. Thereafter, then-U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as our Armistice Day in 1919. President Wilson said of his Proclamation of Veterans Day:

“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.”

Let’s not forget the ones who cannot attend our cook-outs, football games this weekend or the parents, children, and friends of these brave souls who continue fighting for a free country. Oh, how some take Veterans Day and many other observances for granted. All of us wouldn’t be enjoying the quality of our lives without their dedication, sacrifice and service. I implore all to find ways of helping our veterans who’ve been used for a great cause and then forgotten, and those who sit by themselves wondering why this great country is slowly forgetting why Veterans Day comes every November 11.

A special thanks to all who have served in order to bring peace to all Americans. We know you did it without wanting a badge of heroism, and in our eyes will go down as the reason our Constitution will continue to be worth fighting for, many generations to come.

May we not take it for granted.