Veterans Day11-05-2007
To the editor:
Veterans Day is an American holiday honoring military veterans. Both federal and a state holiday in all states, it is celebrated on the same day as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on Nov. 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.
Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, with the German signing of the Armistice Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to United States national security are appreciated, and to emphasize the fact that all those who served not only those who died have sacrificed and done their sense of duty. President Woodrow Wilson first commemorated Armistice Day in the United States in 1919.
Congressman Ed Rees of Emporia, Kan., subsequently introduced legislation to change name to Veterans Day. The name change was enacted on June 1,1954.
As an American, I would like to thank our veterans for all the liberties we have, and freedom many of us take for granted. Now that it is Veterans Day, we as a country should pay great homage to the vets! And ask ourselves, "what and who are veterans?"
Our veterans are the reason we enjoy every freedom we embrace so dear. They courageously went to war and fought as we stayed home and shed many of our tears. A vet salutes when our flag passes because they know what all our flag stands for.
A lot of American soldiers had died to give us what we have today, which are our God given rights. They proudly hold their heads up high, as rightly they should. We owe them all so very much. We should salute them too, not only on Veterans Day, but every day of the year! So, on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, all of us should pay much reverence to the fallen as well as the living and remember those wars were full of strife, they gave the very ultimate for us all. They gave their very essence, and many of them gave their lives.
We can't tell a veteran just by looking. He or she is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Iraq sweating two gallons a day, making sure the armored personnel carrier didn't run out of fuel. He or she is the bartender who has served with unparalleled bravery near the 38th Parallel in Korea.
He or she is the nurse or EMS or doctor who fought against futility on the battlefields of World War II, Korea or Vietnam, or air lifting the wounded or dead out of Iraq and went to sleep weeping every night for two solid years, which continues today. He or she is the POW who left one person and came back another. He or she is the drill instructor that has never been in combat, but has saved countless lives by turning no-accounts into Marines, airmen, sailors or Army soldiers.
He or she is the parade riding Legionnaire who pins on ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand or uses a wheelchair or a walker. He or she is the white-haired man or woman bagging groceries at the supermarket, aggravatingly slow, who helped liberate a Nazi death camp. Or the homeless person on the street, begging for some change or living in a homeless shelter.
If our government won't stand up for our veterans. We should. On this Veterans Day proudly display the stars and strips like we did as a United American people after 9/11 . When every were we went there was a flag displayed buildings, homes, cars, clothing etc. So next time you see a veteran or a soldier gave them a smile and thank them for what they do and done. God bless America and our veterans!
Jeffrey Lefebvre
Adams
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