FARGO, N.D. - For some, it's just another Thursday. For others, it's a bonus day off from work. But, for <a href="http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb09-ff21.html">23.2 million Americans</a>, Nov. 11 represents a day to honor them for their military service. About 57,700 of those millions are North Dakota veterans who served in times of war and peace. Next Thursday, the 91st anniversary of what is now known as Veterans Day, is a day to remember their sacrifices and say thanks.
What we now call "Veterans Day" began on Nov. 11, 1919, as Armistice Day. It was the first anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1926, Congress designated it an annual observance, and a dozen years later, it became a national holiday. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in any of America's conflicts.
Today, those veterans are recognized in parades, during ceremonies and with free meals at local veterans' clubs. As the state's populace of World War II and Korean veterans lessens, <a href="http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0508.pdf">the 18,000 Vietnam-era veterans and 14,000 Gulf War-era veterans here have grown more prominent at such events.</a> More and more young people continue to step up to follow their legacy of service. The composition of those veterans also is changing. Nationwide, there are now <a href="http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb09-ff21.html">1.8 million women veterans</a>; <a href="http://www1.va.gov/womenvet/statistics.asp">in North Dakota, 4,567 of the women in the state have served in the military</a>.
More than half of all those currently serving in the <a href="http://www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil/">North Dakota National Guard </a>joined the military since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. They raised their right hands and pledged to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic" while knowing full well they would likely deploy overseas before their first enlistment was up.
In the nine years since that horrific day in American history, more than 4,400 North Dakota Army and Air National Guardsmen have deployed from the state, as have reservists from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Airmen from Minot and Grand Forks bases and active-duty forces who call North Dakota home. North Dakotans don't shy from service; 65 of every 10,000 residents here are in the military. Nationally, that rate is much lower, with only 15 of every 10,000 residents serving.
In today's all-volunteer military, each service member stood up to accept the challenges and risks on their own. They prepared their families for separation and watched from afar as their family members served, too - raising children alone, handling all of the household chores and managing the finances. As dual-status service members and civilians, they worked with their employers to ensure a seamless transition from civilian to service member and back again. In the meantime, hundreds of employers across the state expressed their support and patriotism by supporting their Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines while they were away.
Our state's veterans predominantly hold a wealth of skills, having been trained in what oftentimes are separate careers in the military and in the civilian workforce.
"Besides our strong work ethic and dedication, one of the reasons North Dakota has been so incredibly successful during deployments is that we bring so many skills to the mission," said <a href="http://www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil/jointforce/jointexecutivecouncil/Sprynczynatyk/Pages/default.aspx">Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk</a>, North Dakota adjutant general. "If they call for an air defense unit, the nation gets Soldiers trained in high-tech systems, but they also get civilians who may be trained as a journeyman electrician, for example, who can help in a pinch if there's a generator problem overseas."
Veterans may be your neighbors, your mail carriers, your plumbers, your teachers, your police officers or your elected representatives.
In the elections this week, you likely saw a veteran or two at your local polling place. The U.S. Census Bureau has found that veterans are more likely to vote in elections than the civilian populace.
As today's veterans are thanked for their service, many more are remembered for their service. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/NDMemorialGWOT">In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 24 North Dakotans have given all they had and died fighting.</a> Many more have died in wars of the past, including <a href="http://www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil/history/164WWII/wwtwothosethatdied/Pages/default.aspx">334 who served with the North Dakota National Guard's 164th Infantry Regiment during World War II</a>.
Civil War veteran Robert G. Ingersoll once said, "He loves his country best who strives to make it best."
On Veterans Day, we collectively say thanks for those valiant efforts.
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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,500 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Currently, about 75 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while more than 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that's more than four times the national average.
>u>Photos</u>
Nearly 3,000 high-resolution photos of North Dakota Guardsmen in action can be downloaded from Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard. Here are some highlights of these veterans from the past six months:
KFOR Fargo Homecoming-204: Sgt. Travis Kane, of Fargo, N.D., waits to embrace his daughter as she runs to him July 23, 2010, upon his return to Fargo after a one-year deployment to Kosovo. He was one of about 650 North Dakota Guardsmen mobilized in August 2009 for a NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. While there, they served in Multi-National Battle Group East, a contingent of about 1,200 military members from the United States, Greece, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Turkey; it was under the command of Brig. Gen. Al Dohrmann, of Bismarck, N.D. (Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/4822138022/
NDANG FireFighters-099: U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Miller leads Staff Sgt. Erik Vosseteig, both of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, North Dakota Air National Guard, on a two-person hose team June 6, 2010, as they approach a mock aircraft burn pit while performing firefighter training at the North Dakota Air National Guard Regional Training Site, Fargo, N.D. The mock aircraft burn pit provides realistic training for the firefighters with technically controlled flames emanating from various areas of a metal airplane frame. (Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/4678918933/
Spc Keenan Cooper-141: The North Dakota National Guard Military Funeral Honors team transfers the remains of U.S. Army Spc. Keenan Cooper upon arrival at the 119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard, on July 14, 2010. Cooper was killed in action while serving his country in Afghanistan on July 5. (Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/4794653676/
Outdoor Chapel Service-008: Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Flowers, of the 119th Wing, reads a passage from the Bible July11, 2010, during an outdoor chapel service at the North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo, N.D. The nondenominational chapel service is a regular part of the monthly unit training assembly at the NDANG base. (Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/4793867520/
MP Training 003: Soldiers with the 191st Military Police Company start a two-mile run near the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center during the unit's October 2010 drill. The run was the third portion of an Army Physical Fitness Test that also included two minutes for push-ups and two minutes for sit-ups. (Photo by Spc. Kevin E. Marvig, 191st Military Police Company) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/5056857435/
C-27J_Fargo-432: Senior Airman Shawn Beckner, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron stands in front of a C-27J prior to a familiarization flight over North Dakota Oct. 15. Beckner has been selected for a future position working in the C-27J as a loadmaster. The flight is part of a C-27J familiarization tour being conducted at the North Dakota Air National Guard by L-3 Platform Integration, Alenia North America, and the companies' joint venture, Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS). The familiarization tour is to help unit members of the North Dakota Air National Guard get acquainted with their future aircraft and planned mission transition scheduled to begin in 2013. (Photo by Senior Master Sgt Dave Lipp) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/5084958076/
Sentinel Radar Soldiers: North Dakota Soldiers serving with the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Iraq stop for a photo. They work in the 3rd Infantry Division-led U.S. Division-North. Pictured from left are Sgt. 1st Class Michael W. Kraft, of Devils Lake, N.D.; Spc. Erik E. Anderson, of Bismarck, N.D.; Spc. Scott M. Douglas, of Northwood, N.D.; Spc. Calvin C. Cavett, of Mapleton, N.D.; and Staff Sgt. Nathan N. Johnson, of Mandan, N.D. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/4973998048/
Pilot for the day-172: 1st Lt. Lee Teigen, of the 177th Airlift Squadron, right, takes an imaginary flight in the cockpit of a C-21 aircraft with pilot for the day Sean Clementich, of Devils Lake, N.D. Aug. 20, at the North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo, N.D. Clementich's C-21 control panel experience is part of his special day as an honorary general officer at the N.D. Air National Guard Wing. The Pilot for a Day event is a chance for a child to forget about recent medical troubles and procedures to get some special treatment by the men and women of the 119th Wing, and to have some fun touring various areas of the military base with friends and family. (Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/4911520392/
Annual Training 020: 2nd Lt. Eliud Feliciano-Crespo (right), of Fargo, N.D., explains to Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, on June 16 how the unit is training on water purification equipment while pumping water out of a training area during Annual Training at Camp Grafton Training Center, Devils Lake, N.D. Feliciano-Crespo serves with the 132nd Quartermaster Company's Detachment 3, of Cando, N.D. The unit is headquartered in Grand Forks with detachments also in Bottineau and Rugby, N.D. (Photo by Sgt. Jessica R. Geiger, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/4733217118/
Garrison_001: Sgt. Brian Anderson, of Dwight, N.D., measures angles to cut siding for the gable end of the classroom project at the North Dakota National Guard's Garrison, N.D., wet site training area June 19, 2010. North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers with the 188th Engineer (Vertical Construction) Company worked on the project during their 2010 Annual Training. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Benjilee Boll, 188th Engineer Company) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/4730402779/in/photostream/
C-285th Aviation Company 24: The North Dakota Army National Guard's Company C of the 285th Aviation Assault Battalion mobilized in October 2009 for a yearlong deployment to Iraq. They returned home last month. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/4710333386/
<u>Video</u>
Video of veterans' service and sacrifice from this past year can be viewed at www.youtube.com/NDNationalGuard. For high-resolution video, contact the Public Affairs Office.
Aca,!Ac Hero Returns to North Dakota: http://www.youtube.com/ndnationalguard#p/u/5/S4YHfv6HYGM
Aca,!Ac Civil Servant of the Year: http://www.youtube.com/ndnationalguard#p/u/0/xSGSwSKrcx4
Aca,!Ac Soldiers Return to Fargo After Kosovo Deployment: http://www.youtube.com/ndnationalguard#p/u/3/nRZhXBKAegE
Aca,!Ac Combatives Training: http://www.youtube.com/ndnationalguard#p/u/9/GnW_GZE7Rmw
Aca,!Ac 188th Army Band Jazz Combo in Downtown Fargo: http://www.youtube.com/ndnationalguard#p/u/16/1tnChCdpxT4
Aca,!Ac Air National Guard Hometown Heroes: http://www.youtube.com/watch'v=gMbYuHv_vrE
Aca,!Ac NDNG 2010 Flood Recap: http://www.youtube.com/ndnationalguard#p/u/18/cb3lKazpZiw
Aca,!Ac Silver Star Presentation Ceremony for Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wanner: http://www.youtube.com/ndnationalguard#p/u/48/KqKCsWhdI28
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