Not to be confused with Memorial Day; this is a holiday to celebrate our men and women who have served and are currently serving. As to where Memorial Day is to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. The holiday we celebrate today was originally named Armistice Day because November 11th, 1917, when a cease-fire was ordered to end World War I, calling it “the war to end all wars.”
There are about 19.6 million veterans in the United States today that celebrate this holiday. A ceremony is held at the Tomb of the Unknown where a wreath is placed at the 11th hour of the day to mark the cease-fire that stopped the terrible trench fighting of the First World War. All branches of the military are in attendance and are usually accompanied by the President of the United States. The largest celebration is held on the streets of New York, this is one of their most iconic parades, holding almost as much notoriety as the Thanksgiving Day parade.
Between 1971 and 1977 Veterans day was celebrated on the fourth day of October. This was later changed back to its original date, the 11th day of November. Britain, France, Australia, and Canada all have their own holiday to commemorate the veterans of World War I around November 11th. The first use of “veteran” was in 1789, in the English language when talking about a former member of the armed forces or an ex-serviceman.
Our veterans are a small percent of our population but total active members are even smaller and make up less than one percent of the entire United States population. With this volunteer force our veterans are coming out more skilled and more qualified and with good reason. The amount of demand that is put on them even during peacetime efforts are a lot to ask of one person. Not to mention the friends and family that are around them to support and push the household forward while they are away. So, the next time you recognize the veteran hat, sticker or t-shirt, don’t be afraid to say thank you because as President Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
