The purpose of Veterans Day is to honor all who served in the military whether during time of war or peace. The holiday originated as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the armistice signed on November 11, 1918, which ended World War I. Over 4.7 million American soldiers served in the “Great War” most of whom returned home at the end of the conflict with first hand experience of the terror and devastation of war.

The U.S. experience in World War I led to great reluctance to once again send Americans to fight “Europe’s War” twenty years later when Nazi Germany invaded its neighbors in Europe and threatened England. The formation of the America First Committee later led by aviator Charles Lindbergh was a manifestation of the sentiment.

However, the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese and subsequent declarations of war against the United States by Japan’s ally Germany reversed public opinion. The U.S. entered World War II reluctantly but fully committed to victory. This time 16 million Americans served in our Armed Forces.

In 1954, the name was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all veterans including those of World War II and the Korean War. Few Korean War veterans are alive today and fewer still veterans of World War II. Later veterans who served in Vietnam and more recently those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were added to the honor roll.

Veterans Day also includes those of us who served in peacetime and reserves, trained and ready to be called upon by our nation if needed.

Today we should be reminded that all of those wars produced veterans wounded physically and scarred mentally by the terrors of combat. In that regard we should support government and private charity activities aimed at meeting the needs of our wounded veterans and their families. That support would make meaningful your observation of this Veterans Day 2024.