NYC Letter: Veterans Day

Today, November 11, is Veterans Day, originally Armistice Day, which commemorated the first of the two ends to WWI (scil., the signing of the Armistice 11.11.1918 and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles 06.28.1919, which also does double-duty as the start of WWII.). The name was changed to the more encompassing Veterans Day by Act of Congress on May 24, 1954.

Veterans Day is a national holiday in the United States. It is reserved for venerating the living who have served in the military, and complements Memorial Day, which commemorates those have who have died in military service. Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, is a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Armed Forces Day is a day set aside to salute those serving in the military and is celebrated on the third Saturday in May.

Through their commitment to freedom, America 's veterans have lifted millions of lives and made our country and the world more secure. They have demonstrated to us that freedom is the mightiest force on Earth. We resolve that their sacrifices will always be remembered by a grateful Nation.

...I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to encourage and participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I invite civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, businesses, unions, and the media to support this national observance with commemorative expressions and programs.

-- From the President's Veterans Day Proclamation

Today, sadly, these days of national remembrance are weakly observed or not at all in some fashionable quarters. Thankless movies like Jarhead, scheduled to be in theaters in time for Veterans Day, depict military service as a hollow calling, a waste. Yet men and women continue to answer their nation's call for military service, finding purpose and honor.

Reader V de T, sents us this:

On the radio, a program called Point of View, invited military veterans to call in and share their experiences. Tommy, a deep voiced Southern back from Iraq, [told when] he had been in the south of Iraq an old man came up to his squad with his little grandson. He embraced the soldiers with joy and had them hug his little grandchild. The soldiers were a bit taken aback at this and puzzled. The grandfather said "I have not many years left, but you have given my grandson a future."

We wish to acknowledge our gratitude to all who serve and have served, in peace and in war, in capacities great and small, in the defense of America. We also thank the families of the military, who are recognized on no special day.