Saturday will mark the 98th consecutive year that America will honor veterans on Nov. 11. It began after the end of World War I, when former President Woodrow Wilson declared a national “Armistice Day” to celebrate the end of what was presumed to be “the war to end all wars.” In 1938, an act of Congress officially recognized Nov. 11 as an official, legal holiday.
It was not until 1954 that then President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a revered World War II general, officially changed the name of the Nov. 11 holiday to “Veterans Day.” This marked the inaugural Veterans Day that Americans know, meant to recognize all American military veterans.
In order to properly pay respects to veterans, we must be aware of the distinctions between the three main holidays meant to honor the military: Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day.
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May every year and is meant to remember American military personnel who died in combat. Armed Forces Day, celebrated on the third Saturday of May, is to thank current members of the armed forces.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website, “Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty.”
American society and entertainment seems to be in a perpetual state of hollow military appreciation that results in a degradation of their service. Sports teams, both professional and collegiate, use military appreciation as a cheap guise to sell limited-edition camouflage apparel. Politicians pay lip service to soldiers, constantly describing them as heroic and selfless while doing nothing to provide housing to the thousands of homeless veterans or improve their medical care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These examples, while inexcusable, are merely symptoms that reveal the broader issue at play. Rather than paying respects to current, former and deceased members of our military on the appropriate designated day, society operates in a constant state of passive appreciation. This diminishes the significance of the holidays and ultimately the service of our military.
Taking the time to sincerely thank a veteran on the day reserved for it will prove much more meaningful than buying into whatever cheap, military-themed event a sports league or team is promoting to sell tickets.
Photo provided by S.C. Air National Guard via Flickr
