I know that today is not the 11th day of the 11th month, at least not yet. But my iPhone calendar app tells me that today is when most of the U.S. is celebrating Veterans Day, a day in which we celebrate all the men and women who served in the United States Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I (remember being taught that World War I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month?). President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to the people of the United States on the very first Armistice Day, in which he expressed what he felt the day meant to Americans:
“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 council of nations.”
Congress passed a law on May 13, 1938 which officially made November 11th a legal holiday, “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”
Unfortunately, World War I wasn’t the “war to end all wars” as everyone had believed. World War II veteran Raymond Weeks had the idea to celebrate all veterans on Armistice Day, not just those who died in World War I. Weeks led the first celebration in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, a tradition that he continued until his death in 1985. It was President Dwight Eisenhower who signed a bill on May 26, 1954 to recognize November 11th as Veterans Day, a national holiday. President Ronald Reagan awarded Weeks the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 as the driving force for the national holiday.
Importantly, while the holiday is commonly printed as “Veteran’s Day” (with an apostrophe before the letter ‘s’), the official spelling is “Veterans Day” (without the apostrophe), as the holiday is not a day that belongs to veterans, but rather a day to honor all veterans. Also, the term “veteran” is defined as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.” In other words, even if you only served in peace time and never war time, you are still a veteran.
For those of you who’ve followed my posts in the past, you know that I like quotes. Here is one of my favorites, from the 2005 movie “Coach Carter” starring Samuel L. Jackson (check out the scene here). I think the original quote comes from a poem by Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
If you are a veteran, or if you just know someone who is a veteran, let your light shine.
For all of you who served, thank you. Happy Veterans Day!
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