I’m going to take a break from news reporting today. It seems appropriate, as we are home today, having a day off from school, no mail, no banks, to think about our country as it is newly reborn and what Veterans Day means.
Veterans Day began as the commemoration of Armistice Day, the day that the armistice treaty was signed which ended World War I, the War to End All Wars. It was first proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. In 1954, thanks to the idea first put forward by Mr. Al King, a shoe store owner from Kansas, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day in honor of all veterans of all wars fought by the United States in its history.
As I said, we celebrate Veterans Day in my home by having a “pajama” day. The kids don’t have to get dressed unless they’re going out. And they probably aren’t. But we also set aside time to call my husband’s father, who served in the Navy in World War II. He is part of our “Greatest Generation” and, thank God, survived the conflict. We are so grateful that he fought, so grateful that he is with us still today. Thanks, Grampa Charlie.
Please, if you know a veteran of any conflict, thank them today. They sacrificed much more than we will ever know. And pray, if that is right for you, for our troops in harm’s way at this time. They are our future veterans and it is to be profoundly hoped will all be home soon. And let us all pray as well that when they do come home, healthy or not, that we are now in a position to make sure that they are properly cared for.