Honoring America’s Military on Veteran’s Day
By Rajeev Singh
Today, America comes together to celebrate our veterans.
On November 11, 1919, the “war to end all wars”, World War I, officially ended. The human sacrifice involved was staggering — 17 million people perished, nearly 11 million of while in military service. That day, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a national holiday — Armistice Day — to mark a day of remembrance for our military personnel who died in that conflict.
In 1945, a WWII veteran from Alabama, Raymond Weeks had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in WWI. On May 26, 1954, WWII hero and then President Eisenhower signed a bill into law that expanded Armistice Day to Veterans Day — thereby honoring all veterans who have served their country and risked so much in doing so. Today, we mark that day.
As President Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
For those of you who have either served in the military, are currently in the reserves, or have family or people you love in the service, today is a day that we say thank you. Your sacrifice is not something we take for granted. You set a high bar for all of us.
