Dear St. George Families,
We Honor All Who Served
On the 11
th
hour of the 11
th
day of the 11
th
month the guns of World War I were silenced. In 1926 Congress declared November 11 Armistice Day, a day to honor veterans.
In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day. The exact date of the observance varied over subsequent years, but in 1978 it was returned to November 11.
To help us realize the meaning of the day, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) explains the 5 "Ws":
Who:
We honor all those who served in the armed forces. Whereas Memorial Day is a time to mourn those who died in conflict, Veterans Day is for remembering the contributions of living veterans.
What:
We remember and honor the individual and collective sacrifices made at the request of our country.
Where:
Though plaques and monuments are spread across the land, paying homage to veterans can take place in every private home.
When:
Many of us remember veterans every day. But, as a nation, we honor the collectively on November 11.
Why:
Millions of Americans' lives were forever altered because they sacrificed to protect the freedoms and rights we take for granted today. We owe them an eternal debt of gratitude.
Veterans Day continues a time-honored tradition of remembering those who served.
God bless,
Jack Nelson
MOMMY, WHAT IS A VETERAN?
"Mommy, what is a veteran,"
my child asked in an innocent way
"and could you please explain to me
why we have a Veteran's Day?"
My mind searched for the adjectives
that might help me clarify
those people, who for their country
have looked death in the eye.
I quickly grabbed the dictionary
to see what Webster may have used,
but "one who served in the armed forces"
were not the words that I would choose.
But, how do you describe a veteran -
soldiers you have never met,
those you'll never know the names of
and yet never will forget?
How do you describe a veteran?
How do you convey a definition
for those who brought this country's dreams
to their ultimate fruition?
How do you describe a veteran -
strangers who fought for you,
men and women who risked their lives
for people they never knew?
How do you describe a veteran -
and the sacrifices they made
so that you and your children's children
could live free and unafraid?
How do you describe a veteran -
for a child's sake?
You say "a veteran is a person to whom
we owe every breath we take."
©Copyright 1998 by Linda Ellis