Recognizing Veteran's Day

More and more it seems people are putting politics ahead of the gratitude and recognition our armed service members deserve. This is a time to set aside one’s feelings about war and recognize what a tremendous sacrifice our service members and their families are making to ensure our freedom and safety. These men and women volunteer to serve in the military. They are choosing this path as part of their beliefs and commitment to our country and her freedom. Whether you personally support war or not, it is inappropriate to hold this opinion against our military and our veterans. Indeed, this very freedom—to hold individual and opposing opinions—is among the many freedoms our military protects. Over time, Veteran’s Day has become just another bank holiday. Many school systems do not observe Veteran’s Day as a student holiday, denying students the opportunity to participate in Veteran’s Day parades and celebrations. For too many years, this holiday has been relegated to “old men” and civic organizations.

As responsible citizens of the world’s most free country, we owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served, and are currently serving, in the United States military. Veteran’s Day is a national holiday set aside to recognize and remember the sacrificial service of military members from all the branches of services, and from all periods of service. The November 11th holiday has been previously known as Remembrance Day, referring to it’s being set aside to remember our veterans. It was also formerly known as Armistice Day, recalling the Armistice signed in the Forest of Compiegne, France, by the Allies (which included the United States) and the Germans on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, bringing an end to the first World War. Lindell wrote an AC article entitled, The History of Veteran’s Day, which effectively outlines the history of this significant day of honor and remembrance. Memorial Day is the day reserved for honoring those who paid the ultimate price for freedom, sacrificing their lives for our country.