thankful thursday - veterans

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice (a temporary cease-fire) was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then called the Great War. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 officially ending WWI but to the public's eye, November 11th, 1918 was the end of the war and thus became known as Armistice Day, an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on that date beginning in 1919.

In 1926, Congress passed a resolution that the "recurring anniversary of November 11, 1918 should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations" and that the president should issue an annual proclamation calling for the observance of Armistice Day. In 1938, November 11th became a legal federal holiday dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'. At that time, more than half the states had already instituted their own legal holiday.

After World War II and the Korean War, veterans' service organizations lobbied Congress to amend the 1938 act that made Armistice Day a holiday; they wanted to call the holiday Veteran's Day to honor all veterans of the United States Armed Services. President Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954 and November 11th officially became Veteran's Day.

Until 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill making several holidays observed on Mondays. (You can read more about that bill in my Memorial Day 2014 post.) But many states disapproved and continued to observe Veteran's Day on November 11th. And the veteran's organizations didn't like changing the day to one that often had no significance and once again lobbied Congress. In 1978, President Ford signed a new law returning Veteran's Day to November 11th. Incidentally, Veteran's Day was the only holiday affected by the Uniform Holidays Act to be returned to its original date.

Yesterday we celebrated Veteran's Day with flags flying and parades. People made speeches. News teams covered many events. An official wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.

But today, November 12th, it is back to business as usual. There are no more flags flying than is usual. No parades. No news articles.

I am thankful for all the veterans who have served our country so proudly and selflessly. I am thankful for their families who have also sacrificed greatly in ways nonmilitary families can't imagine. And I am thankful for them every single day. Are you?

When you see a veteran, smile and thank them for their service. They are pretty easy to spot - they have special license plates, they stand straight and salute the flag no matter where they are, they often sport caps designating which war they fought in. Sometimes they have limbs missing or are in a wheelchair.

Pray for our veterans and their families every day. And be grateful.