Freedom. It’s something we all have and enjoy here in America. However, often we as Americans forget the people who secured and defended this freedom for you and me — veterans. Since 1919, Nov. 11 has been known as Armistice Day. It wasn’t until 1954 that the name was changed to Veterans Day. Regardless of its name it is what this important day pays tribute to that matters, the men and women who have fought to protect this country and preserve liberty.
Nov. 11, which is tomorrow, was designated as Veterans Day, when a temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month at the end of World War I in 1918.
According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2003 there were approximately 26.4 million American veterans living. Nearly one third of all veterans were older than 65 and it is this generation that we must not forget. Sadly, there are no living veterans from World War I; it is the veterans from World War II who are now slowly passing away.
Both of my grandfathers were veterans of World War II and are no longer with us. I can recall as a child and teenager talking with both of my grandfathers about their experiences and time spent fighting in the Pacific Rim during the war. It is now that they have both passed away that I realize how much we as a country need to preserve the stories of our past generations of veterans.
It is vital that we, as a nation, do not forget our veterans and not let their stories and memories die. We owe it to those brave men and women who have put their lives on the line for America to remember and carry their personal memories on from our generation to the next. Time is starting to run out on some of these precious memories, as many have not been told. It is up to our generation to hear the stories and preserve them for future generations and rescue them from death.
We as a nation should not only express our gratitude to our veterans, but also those Americans who currently wear the uniform as well. These men and women are the next generation of veterans, and they, too, deserve our appreciation.
Our campus has many students who are currently in the Army, Navy or Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. In the not-too-distant future our fellow students will be entering the armed forces to protect you and me. If you have a class with someone in any ROTC department mention, to him or her how proud you are. ROTC members do not hear this enough.
Current members of the military, we owe much to you for your service. In this time of war we need to thank you for volunteering to take time away from your family and friends to defend the red, white and blue. We appreciate all you have done.
Finally, to our veterans I want to say thank you. Thank you for being brave enough to stand up for Lady Liberty. Without your efforts America could not survive and the world we live in would be a scary one. Whether you are a veteran of World War II or Operation Iraqi Freedom, your service to our country cannot be thanked enough.
So tomorrow, call or visit a veteran, loved one or not, who donned the uniform for our great country and thank him or her for the sacrifice. Each veteran has experienced something in his or her tenure in the military that deserves to be told and remembered. However if there is no one to listen to the story it will never be passed on.
E-mail Matt at [email protected].
