Veterans Day Letter November 11, 2012
The history of Veterans Day dates back to the armistice, signed on November 11, 1918, which ended hostilities in World War I—the War to End All Wars. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson designated November 11 as Armistice Day, recognizing the heroism, service, and sacrifice of those who fought for freedom in Europe. It wasn’t until 1938 that Armistice Day became an official federal holiday. It would be 16 more years before the day would come to be known as Veterans Day. A second global war, followed by a bloody war fought on the Korean peninsula, prompted veterans services organizations to lobby Congress to change the official name to place more emphasis on the men and women who sacrificed so much.
To this day, we recognize November 11 as a day to honor those among us who serve or have served our nation in uniform. No amount of thanks, no day of remembrance, and no words can adequately repay the debt we owe our veterans for their contributions to the way of life we enjoy today. But the inadequacy of these measures doesn’t absolve us of our responsibility to make every effort to thank them for their sacrifices.
In February 2011, we bid farewell to Frank W. Buckles, the last U.S. veteran of the First World War. He was the last link to the generation who first inspired us to pay homage to our heroes in uniform. Though he is no longer with us, the veterans who follow in his footsteps carry the same banner of honor, service, and sacrifice. They represent the best of American virtue.
Generation after generation of Americans have lived and prospered under the blanket of security provided by those who donned a uniform and defended our Constitution and the principles our nation was founded upon. Today’s generation is no different. The veterans of all of our nation’s past skirmishes, battles, and wars enabled the ascent of American economic, diplomatic, moral, and military leadership in the world. That leadership shapes the global landscape and provides opportunities for freedom to flourish here at home and abroad.
Veterans Day focuses the attention of a nation on the heroes who safeguard our way of life. It is the one day out of 365 on which we are called to shift our attention from our daily routines to honor and remember the precious few who answered the nation’s call to arms. This Veterans Day, I encourage you to take stock of your life and to find a way to make a difference in the lives of the veterans around you.
