This week is a time for honoring all those who have served in the United States armed forces.
Friday is Veterans Day – an annual observance held each Nov. 11. But unlike Memorial Day, which is set aside each May in honor of those who died in military service, Veterans Day is dedicated to all veterans of all branches of our military.
The date Nov. 11 was selected for Veterans Day as the federal holiday evolved from the original Armistice Day. That holiday marked the anniversary of the end of World War I, which formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect.
The holiday was renamed in 1954 after a World War II veteran, Raymond Weeks of Alabama, proposed that all veterans be honored with a federal holiday. Weeks led national celebrations of Veterans Day beginning in 1947 and continued to do so until his death in 1985.
Obviously, Weeks was right. We, as a nation, owe a debt of gratitude to all the men and women who have donned military uniforms and put their lives on the line for us. Countless individuals have served and sacrificed during our 240-year history, with some ensuring our safety and security during times of peace and others risking everything to defend our nation and much of the rest of the world during times of war.
I have known a number of veterans in my life, beginning with my own grandfather and father, both of which joined the U.S. Navy. My late grandfather served in World War II, while my dad served in the Vietnam War.
They, like many veterans, have not received the respect that they deserve. We as Americans do not do our veterans justice, only honoring them on special holidays, but it is a start.
Throughout this week and especially on Friday, schools, churches, businesses and a wide variety of organizations will celebrate veterans and their service. We all know people who have served in the military. This week, I urge you to spend a little time reflecting on what their service means to them, to you and to our nation and even the world.
Joseph Brown is the editor and publisher of The Star-Herald. He can be reached at jbrown@starherald.net
