By Mike Parks, RADM US Coast Guard (Ret.), Chief Executive Officer American Red Cross of Northern Ohio
On Wednesday November 11th, we honor America’s Veterans—those men and women who have worn, or continue to wear, the cloth of our nation and whose service and sacrifice have afforded us the freedoms we have enjoyed for more than 250 years!
Speaking of freedoms, last week our nation engaged in one of our most precious freedoms—the right to cast our votes for those individuals we want to lead our country, states, and communities as we went to the mid-term election polls. Many take this right and privilege for granted and forget that numerous countries around globe are not so fortunate. It’s days like Veterans Day when we must remember those that served and sacrificed so each of us could freely vote our conscience. We owe them a sincere debt of gratitude.
As I reflect on previous Veterans Day messages, I’m reminded of some of the most basic facts about this important holiday:
+ We do so in commemoration of World War I’s Armistice which was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
+ Although it became a legal holiday in 1938 to honor WWI veterans, in 1954 the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all American veterans who served.
+ There is no apostrophe because it’s not a day that “belongs” to veterans but a day for “honoring all veterans.”
+ There have been more than 41 million Americans who have served in our military and there are more than 17 million US Veterans alive today.
+ It is customary on Veterans Day to express our thanks & appreciation to veterans. A simple “Thank you for your service.” is wholly appropriate.
+ Veterans past & present served & continue to serve 365 days/year so it’s fitting to thank them each & every day for their selfless service and sacrifice.
+ If you’re a Veteran reading this—THANK YOU for your selfless service and sacrifice!!!
+ Speaking of sacrifice—we also celebrate Military Family Appreciation Month in November. We can never thank our military families enough for their sacrifices.
+ It is proper to fly the American Flag on Veterans Day. Please stand as it passes by if you’re at a parade and put your right hand over your heart.
+ Stand and place your right hand over your heart to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or sing the National Anthem.
+ If we’re able, we should engage veterans about their service while they’re still with us.
One of the lesser-known interesting facts I’ve learned about Veterans Day is that Irving Berlin, an American songwriter and composer, was serving in the U.S. Army in 1918 and composed the first version of “God Bless America.” Irving Berlin was born in Israel to Jewish parents who came to America from Russia when he was five years old, and the words in this song are an overflow from his heart and written as a prayer expressing his love for God and this nation. As Adolf Hitler rose to power, Berlin made some minor changes to a few words and reintroduced the song on the Armistice Day broadcast in 1938. The introduction, that is often left out at many current patriotic events, notes that it is a prayer with the lyrics that say, “While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free. Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.” Those words are as true today as they were more than 100 years ago.
I’ve always been moved by former President Ronald Reagan’s quote, “Freedom is never more than a generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to them to do the same.” I sincerely hope we can all commit to never forget the contributions made by our nation’s veterans, not just on this Wednesday, November 11th, but each and every day of the year.
Best regards, Mike
