Winner, winner, chicken dinner. Phew, it’s finally over! I think we finally made it through another election. Of course, as I am writing this, Tuesday hasn’t even come and gone yet…but I have wishful thinking. 

No matter the outcome of Tuesdays votes, we still have to get up and face the day on Wednesday and hopefully the days thereafter. I said it a few times, but I will say it again, elections bring out the absolute worst in people. 

With that being said, the month of November is a special month without the hype of an election year. Matter of fact next week is probably one of the more important, yet forgotten or underrecognized, “holidays” we have. Veteran’s Day or what was once known as Armistice Day. 

In 1919, President Woodrow 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…”

In June of 1926 the United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when a concurrent resolution was signed. By 1926, 27 states had already declared November 11 a legal holiday. In May of 1938, an act was officially signed making November 11 a legal holiday each year. 

November 11 became a day dedicated to world peace and it was known as Armistice Day. It was originally set aside to honor Veterans of World War I. 

On June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars, not just World War I. After World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history and American forces had fought aggression in Korea the Act of 1938 was amended by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans”. The approval of this legislation came on June 1, 1954 and November 11 became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars. 

So, what does that really mean? 

How do you honor a Veteran?

A large percentage of our population in Goshen County has some connection to the military. Maybe they have served, maybe their dad, grandmother, aunt, etc. The majority of our community knows and loves at least one Veteran. They are truly everywhere. 

Most of the Veterans in Goshen County are our elders. They are our grandparents, our neighbors, our old high school classmates and our friends. 

Sometimes, they are the little old man, standing in the grocery store isle. Sometimes they are the ones in the community who “push our buttons,” as we impatiently wait for them to move out of our busy way. 

Maybe they are the older man who bags our groceries, just to stay afloat in retirement, at the end of our long workday. Maybe our Veterans are the group of ladies walking into the restaurant in front of us, or the teachers, the police officers or even the construction worker we see every day. 

The point is, we really don’t always know who our Veterans are. 

Many of them may experience things we are lucky to never have to face because we are safe at home. Our Veterans have lived in far worse conditions than we will ever be able to understand. They have eaten things we would turn our noses up to and sometimes out of survival alone. They have encountered an extreme number of traumatic events that even the strongest of words couldn’t hold a candle to. Our Veterans have left their families, homes, jobs and communities to protect our Nation. They have missed holidays, anniversaries, births, funerals…first steps and first words. 

Our Veterans have given up everything for each and every one of us...We can honor them by showing them respect. We can honor them by opening doors, waiting patiently and by saying, ‘Thank you.’ We honor them by listening to their stories when they catch us at the post office. 

But most importantly, we honor our Veterans by never forgetting the sacrifices they have made to keep us all safe. 

If you haven’t thanked a Veteran today, here is your chance.