“Veterans Day” — How Did We Get The Name?
Veterans Day is a special day set aside to honor all of our brave veterans, past and present, who have fought to keep our America safe and free.
It was U.S. President Woodrow Wilson who first proclaimed this day, November 11, as a special tribute day, but, interestingly enough, it was first not known as Veterans Day – it was called Armistice Day. Armistice comes from the Latin word meaning “the laying down of arms”. It was November 11th, the 11th hour, of the 11th month of 1918, when the German army officially laid down its arms – it was the end of World War I.
That war had been so harsh and cruel, so costly in destruction of life and property, that it became known as the “War to end all wars” and honestly, people all across the world believed there would be no other World War. Little could anyone imagine that only a mere 20 years later, a second World War would begin, one that was so much more destructive than the last.
So, in 1953, after two World Wars, and in the midst of the Korean War, Congress agreed that this day, November 11th be officially changed to a day which all veterans are honored and in 1954, this day became Veterans Day. And what a glorious day it is – a day when each American can stand free in our own nation, free from a tyrannic bondage, free to pursue our own destiny, to enjoy our own liberties, free indeed.
But, where does this freedom come from? Our great Protector, Almighty God. But, there’s someone else – the veterans – those who have paid their price in every possible way – those who truly know that “freedom isn’t free”. It was Patriot Thomas Paine who said, “The summer soldier, the Sunshine Patriot will, in any crisis shrink from the service of their country, but he who stands now will deserve the love and thanks of men and women – and we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. For what we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly”. And today, we honor those who know that great price and paid it. To all veterans today, we honor you, we salute you, and we thank you.
But, here’s the question. Can we now safely rest on the great sacrifice of those gone before us? The truth is this – we can certainly draw strength from those pasts, we can be moved to a great courage from the example – but sadly, the past cannot protect the present. Then who will fight for America today?
God Bless America!
