November 11 is Veterans Day. It is observed in the United States in commemoration of the Armistice that ended World War I in 1918. In 1954, the annual holiday was renamed from Armistice Day and given the added significance of honoring Veterans.
That begs the question, “What is a Veteran?” A military Veteran is any person who served for any length of time in any military service branch. It is not just combat service. It is any man or woman who puts on the uniform. We all took the oath to defend the constitution and the country up to and including giving our lives. In all wars in our history 42,500,000 have put on the uniform and 1.25 million men and women made that ultimate sacrifice.
As of 2014, there were 20 million Veterans from all conflicts residing in the United States. That represents 6.2 percent of the population according to the census bureau. I’m pretty sure those numbers are lower now because our WW II, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans are dying at an alarming rate.
History has provided us with extraordinary examples of their selfless deeds. Countless millions throughout the world have forever been the beneficiaries of their sacrifice, kindness and generosity.
Often our freedoms are taken for granted. The cost of protecting the liberties we enjoy as individuals and as a nation are frequently overlooked and sadly go ignored. What Veterans have contributed to liberty and the protection of American values are enduring because of their quiet resilient strength of character, faultless loyalty, honor and integrity during peace time and in war. If you ask them they humbly say, “IT IS MY DUTY AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN.”
English Statesman, George Canning wrote, “When our perils are past shall our gratitude sleep?”
Our sense of gratitude cannot “sleep.” We must be willing to pick the Veterans up when they are down, help point them to a new life when they return home and carry them when they are weary. We the many have benefited from the sacrifice and service of the relative few. It is our responsibility to insure our Veterans are cared for. It is a responsibility that we are obliged to fill…..It is one that honor demands of us.
Editor’s Note / Naperville American Legion Post43 and Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 will host their annual Veterans Day Observance at 11AM Fri., Nov. 11, at Veterans Park on Gartner Road across from Grace United Methodist Church. Members of the Naperville Municipal Band will perform patriotic music beginning at 10:45AM.
Note also that the Naperville Marines will raise their flag in honor of the 241st birthday of the U.S. Marines on Nov. 10, 2016, at the Naperville Municipal Center. The brief ceremony begins at 9AM, accompanied by flag-waving anthems.
