Thoughts on Veteran's Day

World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919; however, because the fighting of “The Great War” ceased with an armistice that went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, of 1918, this date is generally regarded as the end of the “War to end all wars.” When President Wilson proclaimed November 11 1919 as the first commemoration of what would become first Armistice Day, and later Veteran’s Day, this day was to be “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.”

Whenever I think of Veteran’s Day, I think of all the veterans of all the wars who have fought to keep our country free—from the Revolutionary War soldiers to those fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. I think, too of the victories that have preserved our freedoms, both in war, in law, in elections—all of these help to make us free.

As a member of an Army family for 23 years, I have seen many instances that have made me feel patriotic. I have seen many military parades where my heart has swelled with pride in our fine soldiers. I have seen my Air Force flyovers when I realized how grateful I was for those proud aviators who trained and served in far off bases. I have seen scenes on television of armed forces fighting and dying on foreign soil. All of these remind me of the price our soldiers pay for our country.

I also recall times when I have seen individual incidences of respect for our country. I remember going to a movie theater on a military base at Livorno in Northern Italy, and as usual, the Star Spangled Banner played as the flag was displayed on the screen before the regular movie. Everyone in the theater stood and saluted or put their hand on their heart except a bunch of teenagers who were goofing off and being disrespectful. My husband went over to them and told them to stand up and be respectful to the flag, and to those who were fighting for their freedom. They were more respectful after that. It was such a small thing, but I remember how proud I was of my country, and my flag at that moment . The simple act of standing at attention while our national anthem played while we watched a movie on a military base reminded me of the freedoms I took for granted that our soldiers serving in that nation, far from family and friends, did not take for granted. 

My son, Marc, said that he will always remember how proud he was of his dad at that time for reminding those youth how important it is to respect our national anthem and our flag, even in such an informal setting as a movie theater.  He sent me an email saying that the incident was one that "I have written down as one of the defining moments of my life.  It made me realize the importance of standing up for what you believe and hold dear, whether it be respect for our country, or our religious beliefs.  It takes courage; I hope I can have Dad's courage to stand up for what I believe." 

I remember another time while we were stationed on that Italian base. There were international tensions, and our country dropped some bombs on Libya. Libya couldn’t bomb America, so instead they attacked some Italian islands they could reach. It was a tempest in a teapot, but some Italian politicians became angry against America. As civilians we knew nothing that morning, but as our teenage son walked through the Italian villaggio on the way to school, an old Italian woman swore at him and spit on him. Our son had been told not to walk to school because of the incidence (and had done it anyway). After being spit on, he went home, got his boombox, loaded the tape, “I’m Proud to Be an American” in it and played it loudly all the way to school. By that afternoon all students were bussed to and from school with soldiers with M-16s on the buses as escorts to prevent problems.

There were anti-American protests outside the base so it was closed to all but Americans. Mormon missionaries were told to stop wearing their name tags and to stop proselyting temporarily because they were a symbol of America. Eventually everything blew over and became normal again, but it reminded us how really free we are in America. I am grateful for those soldiers all over the world who live in places where it isn’t always easy to live as an American so the rest of us Americans can enjoy our freedoms.

I remember my first experience with the military when I first joined Ed at Ft. Wolters, Texas while my husband was going through flight school. I lived in a tiny apartment on the reactivated base and every morning I heard reveille play at 5:00 am. I couldn’t hear where it was coming from and at first I wondered if it was ghostly music from World War II when Ft. Wolters was for a time the largest infantry replacement training center in the United States. Eventually I realized my mistake, but it reminded me of all the soldiers who had passed through Ft. Wolters on the way to first World War II, and now on their way to Vietnam.  How many of these soldiers who passed through Ft. Wolters lived and how many died? How many who heard the same haunting sounds of that reveille as I did, died during their army tours?

Unfortunately, the Armistice signed on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918 did not end all wars. The Americans still fighting on foreign shores need our support whether we support the wars they are fighting or not. Veteran’s Day this year on 2011 is a day set aside to honor all America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. 

The original proclamation suggested that some ways to commemorate Veteran’s Day would be:

·         with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace   through good will and mutual understanding between nations;

·         with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.;

·         with the display of the flag of the United States on all Government buildings;

·         with inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

How each of us remembers the service of these veterans is an individual decision. How will YOU commemorate Veteran’s Day this year?