Veterans Day - honoring the bold, the brave

By Col. Deborah B. GraysNovember 12, 2009

Col. Deborah B. Grays
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Commander's Corner

Garrison Commander

Fort McPherson & Fort Gillem

Wednesday was Veterans Day. The fact that it fell in the middle of the week this year highlights the significance of the day and serves as a reminder of why we observe this holiday Nov. 11 each year.

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, to memorialize the end of the "Great War." World War I had ended June 28 of that year with the Treaty of Versailles, and in recognition of the end of "the war to end all wars," Congress approved the 11th day of November of each year as a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace.

In 1954, Armistice Day became Veterans Day in recognition of the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen who fought in World War II and Korea. Veterans Day now honors American veterans of all wars and is always observed on the 11th day of November. It is one of the few federal holidays that does not move its observation date to coincide with a weekend, although from 1971 until 1977, it did. In response to the requests of many state legislatures and major veterans' service organizations, in 1978, President Gerald Ford returned the annual observation of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11.

We approached this Veterans Day fully engaged in overseas contingency operations. Our Soldiers and their Families are as aware as ever of the sacrifices demanded by a nation at war and the impact of today's operational environment.

I therefore ask each of you to take a moment Wednesday to contemplate Wilson's words, which still ring true today: "To us in America, the reflections of Veterans Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude ... both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice ...."

Veterans Day honors America's veterans of all wars for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. As our servicemembers around the world continue to pursue peace and justice in places far from home, I encourage each of you to reflect on the tenets that we hold dear as Americans and recognize that we owe our veterans a debt of gratitude for enabling us to live in a country in which "liberty and justice for all" is a way of life.

I salute each of our veterans, as well as the Soldiers of Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem, Wednesday and every day, and I thank you for your service to our great nation. You have demonstrated time and time again that no mission is too difficult, no sacrifice too great.

Thank you for a job well done.