It’s a day off from school and a day to sleep in. Some people will be at work, meetings, or with their families, not even thinking about the real reason this day exists.
Veteran’s Day, created on November 11, shares the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed by the Allies and the Germans in 1918 and ended World War I. Dubbed “Armistice Day,” it stayed that way for over 35 years.
This changed on May 24, 1954, when an Act of Congress declared it Veteran’s Day. In October of that year, President Eisenhower asked all citizens to observe the day by remembering the sacrifices of all those who fought so gallantly, and through rededication to the task of promoting an enduring peace. The President referred to the change of name to Veteran’s Day in honor of the servicemen of all America’s wars.
This day is one of the most important in our entire nation. Right now, across the United States of America, millions of people are ready to fight each other over political, moral and ethical issues. Many are angry over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, abortion rights, religious differences, etc. Despite the fact that Democrats practically swept the nation in Tuesday’s election, people should forget about all of their differences and remember that we are one nation, indivisible, and it is because of selfless veterans that we are still those three things.
One such veteran is PSU junior Bin Huang, who after going to Iraq, feels that, “Veteran’s Day is for everyone in the nation to recognize and celebrate what the troops have done for this country, in protection of the freedoms and rights we enjoy, that many of us take for granted.”
Senior James Mazzuchelli, another PSU student who has worn the uniform in Iraq, said, “To me, Veteran’s Day is a day where hopefully the general public can show their recognition, respect and gratitude, to not only veterans but also their families, for the self-sacrifices made for the good of all and for the sacrifices for reasons unknown.”
Sophomore Travis Ducharme, a non-military member of the PSU community, agreed with Mazzucheli, saying that, “Veteran’s Day is a day of remembrance, not only for the heroes or the courageous, but for every single man and woman who has fought for our country or allowed a loved one to fight for our country.”
Today, we honor many different members of our society for taking advantage of the rights we possess. However, as Admiral Jeremiah Denton said, using an oft-quoted phrase, “It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”
May we remember this, not just today, but for the rest of our lives.