Editorial

Honor a veteran on Nov. 11 — and every day

Posted

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice between Germany and the Allied forces went into effect. On that date in 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that the day should be filled with “solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.” There were plans for parades, public meetings and a brief suspension of business activities at 11a.m.

On what is now called Veterans Day, we honor not only those who gave their lives for their country, but military personnel who served in all wars, particularly living veterans. Some communities host parades and church services, and in many places the American flag hangs at half staff. Some schools are closed, while others mark the occasion with special assemblies or other activities.

But is that all you need to know about Veterans Day?

John R. is a young veteran, in his mid-30s. He served in Afghanistan twice, and lives on Long Island with his wife and young son, John Jr. Standing on the sidelines at a local Veterans Day ceremony in his community last year, he seemed like a casual observer, honoring other veterans who gathered, many of their faces weathered with time and with war memories that, thankfully for some, have started to fade.

But John’s memories have not faded. His are unseen war wounds, and they are fresh and raw. They’re not the physical kind, but the kind that keep him awake at night — the kind that give him nightmares and bouts of anger and depression. The kind that prevent him from holding a job for more than a few months.

Many at the ceremony didn’t even know he was a veteran, but he said he felt the love anyway. He is thankful, he added, when he sees people gather to honor servicemen and women. He knows they are trying to be patriotic, and that’s a good thing. But, he wonders, what about the rest of the year? People do want to help, he said, but maybe they just don’t know how.

Here, with thanks to www.realwarriors.net, are some suggestions:

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