Every November 11th since 1918, the United States of America has celebrated its current and past soldiers on its national holiday, Veterans Day.
Veterans Day was established as a national holiday on November 11, 1919. That day marks the day the Treaty of Versailles was signed, which was the much-anticipated end of the “War to end all wars,” otherwise known as World War I. The president during that time was President Woodrow Wilson who proclaimed November 11th as Armistice Day; however, later, in 1964, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the law that changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
Veterans Day has an impact on millions of people nationwide, whether that be the veterans who are currently surviving and those who have already finished their service in the military, or the descendants of those who still tell their family’s history.
“It means a lot to me, my father was a veteran of World War II. He dropped out of high school to join the Navy right after Pearl Harbor. My dad hit the beach on D-Day. He never talked about it since he was a Presbyterian minister, but it wasn’t till after I joined the military that he talked about it. We spent a nice, quiet day on Veterans Day, it is a day for me to remember the friends I fought alongside, as well as the people who are coming up and the people who came before, the veterans of all the services,” Army veteran and JROTC teacher First Sergeant Robert Stewart said.
While students see Veterans Day as a free day off from school, students who have family or have had family in the military may have differing opinions.
“To me, Veterans Day means remembering fallen soldiers who gave and sacrificed their lives. As well as remembering those who are still with us,” JROTC student Levi Gordon said.
Those who have served may enjoy their Veterans Day with their families and friends to remember their time devoted to the military. Veterans are also given free meals at certain restaurants on Veterans Day, but not all use these benefits.
“I spend it [Veterans Day] at home with my wife, typically my kids will come over, but they’re all grown now. Just a nice, quiet day at home,” Stewart said.
Veterans Day can also be a time for people to think about their personal futures and what they plan to do as they progress in their lives. Many may think that if they want to serve their country, then the only option they have is to serve in one of the six military branches, when really, there are many things that one can do to show their patriotism.
“I would encourage people to serve their country whether it’s in the military or in the civil service or through volunteer service because when we stop serving our country and start just serving ourselves, then we go the way of Rome,” Stewart said.
All in all, Veterans Day is an important holiday that is sometimes overlooked when compared to the upcoming holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it still has an important place in the hearts of not just the veterans it celebrates, but future generations who will serve and become the future veterans of later Veterans Days.
