Veterans Day
We thank you for your service.
Sacrifice. Duty. Honor. These qualities embody the patriots in the American story. Each Veterans Day we salute the soldiers who served in order to protect and defend our Republic. But how did this national holiday begin?
Veterans Day has its roots in the temporary cessation or armistice of the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany that went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of the “Great War.”
In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations,” he said.
Armistice Day continued until 1954, but the enormity of soldiers who fought in World War II and the more recent aggression in Korea emboldened veterans service organizations to urge the 83rd Congress to amend an early Act by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. The commemoration continues today, regardless of what day of the week it falls.
Please join us here at Westminster Canterbury Richmond on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Westbrook Bell as Pastoral Care leads us in prayer for our veterans. Be certain to come by and see the living history display in the Cochrane Commons from 10 a.m. to Noon. Enjoy the artifacts and hear the stories of our resident veterans as they share their experiences from their time in service. This display honors our veterans and illuminates the struggle to maintain the freedoms we all enjoy.
Our veterans are an important part of the Westminster Canterbury Richmond community. We are proud of our veterans and honored by their service.