Although Veterans Day officially came into being on June 1, 1954 when President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name Armistice Day officially to Veterans Day, its roots go back to 11 A.M. on the 11 th day of November, 1918.
It began with an armistice (a temporary truce) being implemented at the time mentioned above until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. This Was the ending of World War 1 (known then as the Great War due to 117,000 American soldiers killed and 204,000 wounded no one could imagine a greater war). President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the 11 th of November that year with these 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 countrys 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 intent to begin with, was to have a two minute period of silence at 11 A. M. plus public meetings and parades. The Federal government has no power to create any national holiday. Only for the military and for the District of Columbia, they can however declare a legal Federal holiday, and normally the states have gone along with them and created a legal state holiday for their state. So the armistice proclamation was made each year by the president until 1938 when congress passed legislation making it a legal Federal holiday.
Then following the massive casualties of World War 2 and the Korean War, President Eisenhower signed the legislation changing the name officially to Veterans Day. It was always intended to be a solemn day of recognition for those surviving veterans for their honorable and brave service, plus a memorial for those who gave their lives. But as we in America always do, have turned it into a day of recreation and fun with no thought as to the real meaning of the day. Im pretty sure that those old boys who never returned from the battle fields would not resent anyone their merriment and Im also most positive that I and others who suffered no injury or death, do not mind their activities. I for one feel that no one has any obligation to recognize what little I did, even though I went and did all I was told to do. But it makes me feel very bad that no more serious thoughts are given to those who laid down their lives.
I had friends who died in Korea. I had a friend whom I served with for a short period who came home with a severe case of what was known long ago as Shell Shock but later referred to as psychological trauma. His mind was destroyed by the extreme trauma encountered in battle. He sat around town, on the sidewalk day after day. I stopped and talked with him whenever I happened to see him and invariably, he would cry as we talked. He had family and had undergone treatment but none helped. He later took his own life. Another friend was totally blinded in an explosion but he came home, went to school and became an instructor. He also has now died but he made the best of what he had left. It is difficult to fully comprehend, in most cases, the lack of envy or of self pity that most of these people have. I personally grieve for those boys I see maimed or disfigured but not many of them want you to pity them.
Not many men are eager to go into combat. Not many desire to kill our enemies. My strongest dread was that I might have to kill someone. Not to mean I was not cognizant of the fact that I, myself, might be killed. I had that dread too, but somehow, it did not seem as likely as that it might become necessary that I kill. All the casualties I knew of were from the local National Guard unit that was mobilized and sent into combat. A heavy tank outfit. I was drafted and after basic and advanced training, was pulled from my outfit and trained for the position of Intelligence Aircraft Plotter in an Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion which kept me from even being sent to Korea. So I never went into combat. I could not help but be extremely thankful and happy over that fact, yet it was difficult to see them pull men from our outfit on a regular basis knowing that some of them would not come back.
Ronald Reagan was a master with words and made several worthy quotes concerning our fallen comrades. Here is one at a memorial service:
We're gathered today, just as we have gathered before, to remember those who served, those who fought, those still missing, and those who gave their last full measure of devotion for our country. We're gathered at a monument on which the names of our fallen friends and loved ones are engraved, and with crosses instead of diamonds beside them, the names of those whose fate we do not yet know. One of those who fell wrote, shortly before his death, these words: ``Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.''
And another one which I have been unable to re-locate and cannot quote verbatim went something like this:
These young men not only gave their lives, but they relinquished two lives. The life they were now living and the life they would have lived, the life of a father and a husband, a businessman, a grandfather and more. And all we can do is remember.
I am now 77 years old but only by the grace of God. I could easily have decayed in some mountain in North Korea as many of our brave men did. Im not condemning anyone for enjoying life, but let us never forget those that have given it to us. At the expense of losing theirs.
