It’s time to celebrate, and THANK, the living
Last week the United States celebrated Halloween and our children roamed through the streets in their store bought or homemade costumes carrying the huge bags needed to hold their ‘trick or treat’ goodies. The towns were lit up with colored lights; giant spiders were in the trees and on the rooftops, right alongside the friendly ghosts and goblins. The pumpkins were carved and the witches and warlocks were on the warpath. A normally quiet evening was filled with shrieks and squeals of laughter from the children
After years of fearing pins, needles and razorblades in apples, we’ve come full circle and our children and grandchildren are finally able to experience the same joys we had as children celebrating Halloween.
Now it’s time for both the children and adults to celebrate.
Today the United States will be celebrating another holiday. Unfortunately, it is a holiday that has been sadly overlooked and neglected by most of us. Aside from the parades and speeches by politicians, few of us actually celebrate Veterans Day, yet without our Veterans many of us would not be celebrating any holidays.
Table 505 of the 2008 Statistical Abstract estimates there are 23.7 living veterans. With almost 24 million veterans alive, that means most of us know, or know of a veteran. When was the last time you thanked a veteran, or mailed them a card wishing them a Happy Veterans Day? Cooked a special dinner, or baked a Veterans Day cake in celebration?
Some of us may not understand the meaning of Veterans Day or understand who qualifies as a Veteran, which is understandable since Memorial Day is set aside for veterans that died during wartime while Veterans Day acknowledges both the living and the dead; therefore the two holidays may be somewhat confusing.
It is time for us to recognize the living and thank them for their service to our country. We also need to remember that our thank you should extend beyond our shores as there are soldiers in countries around the world that have fought side by side with our forces.
To each and every Veteran out there – THANK YOU for serving our country.
For the veterans that are still serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, may God be with you and bring you home safe.
To the young men and women that are considering joining the military – May peace be with you.
What is a Veteran?
Veteran - A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Source: Department of Veterans Affairs
What is Veterans Day?
Veterans Day, holiday observed annually in the United States in honor of all those, living and dead, who served with the U.S. armed forces. Unlike Memorial Day, which honors those who have died in wartime, Veterans Day honors all those who have served, in times of peace as well as in war.
Source: "Veterans Day," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2005
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
How many Veterans are still living?
|
Period |
Living Veterans |
|
World War I (1917-1918) |
4 |
|
World War II (1941-1945) |
2,914,000 |
|
Korean War (1950-1953) |
2,970,000 |
|
Vietnam War (1964-1975) |
7,230,600 |
|
Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-1991) |
2,271,000 |
|
War on Terrorism (2001-Present) |
*729,426 |
Veterans Affairs Estimates as of May 2007
*The War on terrorism has not yet ended. The figure listed above indicates the Number of veterans on the benefit rolls as of April 2007
They put their lives on the line for us, isn’t it time for us to show them how much they are appreciated?
HAPPY VETERANS DAY AND THANK YOU
The History of Veterans Day
From the Department of Veterans Affairs (2006)
World War I – known at the time as “The Great War" - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 , in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles , France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918 , is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars."
In November 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…"
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m.
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:
Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - 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, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; 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 striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place 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.
Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."
On that same day, the President sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.
In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.
The Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to insure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.
The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Patricia L Johnson is a former special assignment writer/photographer and co-owner of the Articles and Answers News and Information sites. |
