Happy Veterans Day 2021

On November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to all Americans on the one-year anniversary of Armistice Day, which marked the end of major hostilities in World War I at the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month of 1918.  Following that tradition, the anniversary of the end of World War I was unofficially celebrated every year on November 11th, until Congress passed a resolution to officially honor and observe November 11th every year as Armistice Day in 1938.  

Later on, a World War II veteran named Raymond Weeks petitioned General Dwight Eisenhower to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died or served in World War I.  General Eisenhower, of course, supported the recommendation until he signed the bill that officially named November 11th as Veterans Day in 1954.  Incidentally, Weeks was later honored with a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan and was recognized as the “Father of Veterans Day."

Today, we celebrate Veterans Day, which honors all military veterans, those individuals who have served in one of the branches of the United States Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, and the National Guard).  Veterans Day coincides with other holidays that are celebrated in other countries (Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries, for example), though it is distinct from Memorial Day, a U.S. holiday honoring those who died while in military service and Armed Forces Day honoring those individuals who currently serve in the military.

While most calendars print November 11^th as “Veteran’s Day” (with an apostrophe), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states that the apostrophe is not necessary, “because it is not a day that ‘belongs’ to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans.”  The U.S. government also recommends that we honor all veterans at 2:11 PM Eastern Time with two minutes of silence.

If you have read my blog in the past, you will know that one of my favorite television mini-series of all time is the HBO show Band of Brothers, based on the book of the same name by the historian and author Stephen E. Ambrose.  There is a scene towards the end of the show, when a General in the Wehrmacht (German Army), now a prisoner of war, asks to speak to his men.  His speech (in German, of course) is translated by a member of Easy Company into English.  The men of Easy Company and listen that the words apply to them as well.  It's a powerful reminder, I think, of what it means to serve, even if not in times of war:

Men, it's been a long war. It's been a tough war. You've fought bravely, proudly for your country. You're a special group. You've found in one another a bond that exists only in combat, among brothers. You've shared foxholes, held each other in dire moments. You've seen death and suffered together. I'm proud to have served with each and every one of you. You all deserve long and happy lives in peace.

If you are a veteran, today, we celebrate and honor you.  Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our country and thank you for your service!  You all deserve long and happy lives in peace.