Veterans Day

Today is the first Veterans Day I have experienced as, well, a veteran. Throughout my military career, I had the day off as it was a federal holiday. I marched in a few parades and I represented the Navy as a guest speaker a couple of times, and I also had the day off as it is a Federal holiday. However, I never saw my self as a veteran as I was on active duty. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day as it celebrated the end of the War to End All Wars, also known as World War I. An Armistice was signed between the warring countries at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Thus, this day celebrating the end of WWI morphed into a day to recognize the sacrifices of veterans of all wars. Veterans Day was always celebrated on November 11th, regardless of the day of the week it fell upon each year. In the 1968, Congress passed legislation making Veterans Day a "three day weekend" holiday so the date would be the Monday closest to November 11th. Needless to say, many veterans groups (The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to name a few) opposed this and in 1975 President Ford signed returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978.


Yesterday, an officer with whom I served called me to wish me a happy Veterans Day and then it really struck me. I am now one of the millions before me who served their country with pride. Throughout my active duty career I was not technically a veteran, so I never saw myself as one. Well, today is the first of many Veterans Days I will celebrate in the years to come. I ask any of you who read this blog today and who know a veteran to thank them for their service.