Please join me today in thanking all of those who have served our country, past and present, as we celebrate Veteran’s Day. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I. The end of the war happened at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, so that’s why November 11th was chosen. Congress changed the name to Veteran’s Day in 1954. Veteran’s Day, a legal holiday in the U.S., honors all who have served in the nation’s armed forces, whether living or dead.
This is a day to set aside divisive politics and agree that these heroes deserve our heartfelt thanks and gratitude. Today, take a moment and thank those in your family, community and friends that are veterans for their service. We cannot thank them enough.
It is not often that I find myself at a loss for words, but when it comes to the recognition due to our heroes, I fall short. I decided to look to others for inspiration and found this poem that captures the spirit of Veterans Day. Please enjoy and share with a vet! Thank you for your service!
The Noble and the Brave:
A Veteran’s Day Tribute
When America had an urgent need,
These brave ones raised a hand;
No hesitation held them back;
They were proud to take a stand.
They left their friends and family;
They gave up normal life;
To serve their country and their God,
They plowed into the strife.
They fought for freedom and for peace
On strange and foreign shores;
Some lost new friends; some lost their lives
In long and brutal wars.
Other veterans answered a call
To support the ones who fought;
Their country had requirements for
The essential skills they brought.
We salute every one of them,
The noble and the brave,
The ones still with us here today,
And those who rest in a grave.
So here’s to our country’s heroes;
They’re a cut above the rest;
Let’s give the honor that is due
To our country’s very best.
By Joanna Fuch
