Veterans Day 2020

Veterans Day is an American national holiday celebrated on Nov. 11 that honors those who have served in the U.S. military.

Originally, the holiday was known as Armistice Day, as it originated in 1919 on the first anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. The day became an official national holiday in the United States in 1938. Congress amended the act that had made Armistice Day a holiday in 1954, striking the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans” to honor those who served in all U.S. wars.

From 1971 to 1975, Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October after the 1968 passage of the Uniform Holidays Bill. The date changed back to Nov. 11 in 1975 under President Gerald Ford due to the date’s historical significance.

The U.S. is not the only country that commemorates its veterans. In the United Kingdom, Remembrance Sunday is celebrated on the second Sunday of November. The United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand also observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, in recognition of the time and date of the 1918 armistice.

Now that you understand the history, what’s important is how you take the understanding into consideration what actions you can take to support Veterans.

On Veterans Day, many of us often hear “Thank you for your service” and the gratitude many recent Veterans encounter from the American public is graciously sincere. I suggest the statement, “Thank you for your sacrifice,” more fitting to truly thank Veterans for what they endure as they serve the nation.

Promotion 2013: SGT Wendy Byrd,
then MAJ Pam Dziedzic,
and then LTC Candice E. Frost

Remember Veterans defend the nation not just on Veterans Day but all 365 days a year. The heroism demonstrated by veterans from the formation of the country during the American Revolution to the Global War on Terrorism is admirable. Our current wars were and are fought by some of the most humble and selfless people I’ve ever met.

The humility of Veterans is seen in the long separations from their families that they endure without complaint. The unpretentiousness of service members who work incredibly long hours and do not receive overtime or any extra compensation. During their service Veterans work under imaginably harsh conditions. Veterans serve all around the world in of the baking heat in the Middle East or in the freezing waters of the Arctic.

A Veterans inspiration is doubled when it’s taken into account that they often have spouses who deal with their own career interruptions, multiple moves across the country and the globe and who are often overwhelmingly burdened with more than their fair share of parenting during the deployment of a loved one. 

A Veteran’s family includes the servicemember’s children who never get a vote in joining on their wild ride across the country from post-to-post or camp or station. These children often change schools a half of a dozen times before they ever enter into adulthood. They’re forced to separate from friends and often see a parent, or even both, deploy overseas into harm’s way.

Return from yearlong Afghanistan deployment 2010

Why our Nation deserves to celebrate our Veterans is clear. These selfless individuals who raise their hand to support and defend the constitution of the United States do so with an ideal of what America is and what it can be. When a Veteran volunteers in service to the nation they fulfil a sacred duty to keep America in line with her ideals. 

Veterans raise their hand in agreement that “we the people” work to ensure the safety and security of justice is established while also working towards the ideal of forming a more perfect union. Even in the preamble, our constitution recognizes that we must strive towards a goal to help America shine brightest. American Soldiers agreed to support and defend the constitution of our country and in many ways they’ve gone above and beyond that idea. Because in our grateful nation’s history Veterans have liberated slaves, stopped genocide, and toppled terrorists.

Historian Stephen Ambrose wrote, "America's wars have been like rungs on a ladder by which it rose to greatness. No other country has triumphed so long, so consistently or on such a vast scale through force of arms."

For those Veterans who served they recognize that the profession-of-arms comes with an exceptionally high price tag. Their service is a check written out to the Nation with the possible price of one’s own life.

Assumption of Command Afghanistan 2004

Recently, author Sebastian Junger captured the how veterans experience war and homecoming. The book’s author of Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, reflected this sentiment when he stated at a book signing that  “You’ve got veterans coming back to a society that not only does it not have that very close human cohesion of your group of people around you, but also seems to be losing its cohesion at the macro level of 320 million people,” He elaborated that “Spiritually, this country is bleeding right now, It’s fractured economically, politically, socially,” whether you’re left or right, spiritual or agnostic,” This is why Veterans are key in the process of mending.

The difference of Veterans when combined together in a unit, especially in war, is that they are in it together. They serve a common purpose and work to fulfil a mission. In return, Veterans don't ask for much. That is why remembering the sacrifice of Veterans, for their service to the nation, is of note.

Show your support for these great women and men by hiring veterans in your workplace, visit a VA hospital, or donate to a veterans program.

As Erica will next expound upon, companies should understand that it's smart business to hire veterans because they come preloaded with so many wonderful attributes, the most of which is leadership. For those in business, it’s key to remember when members of the Guard and Reserves deploy, it is America's business to ensure that their civilian careers do not suffer.

Homelessness is another issue that affects veterans disproportionately. As the Veterans of Foreign Wars stated this Veterans Day, “Too often today's tattered citizen of the street was yesterday's toast-of-the-town in a crisp uniform with rows of shining medals. This is hardly the "thanks of a grateful nation." We can do better. We must do better.

Schofield Barracks 
25th Infantry Division Memorial

Fewer than 10 percent of Americans can claim the title "veteran." Currently, one half of one percent of the American public is currently defending the country in the Global War on Terrorism. It’s important that we take time to honor those who have served and are serving now.

Veterans have given us freedom, security and the greatest nation on earth. It is impossible to put a price on that.

As we remember and appreciate them please share in my gratitude to our Veterans, their spouses and most importantly, their families, our nation is forever changed by your selfless service.