This November, individuals across the nation and Grand Forks residents alike honor those who have served our country and celebrate our veterans, commemorating them for their service. The continued observance of Veterans Day holds both historical and cultural significance that honors patriotic values and willingness to sacrifice oneself through selfless service for our country.
The history behind Veterans Day dates to November 1919, one year following the conclusion of WWI. WWI was one of the most catastrophic wars in modern history, which resulted in the deaths of roughly 16 million people, nine million of which consisted of military personnel. The true scale of the total loss of life and destruction because of this war is arguably much greater than historical records show. However, “the war that was fought to end all wars,” eventually concluded on November 11, 1918, and briefly sparked a period of hope for lasting world peace.
The following year President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that November 11 shall be the first commemoration of Armistice Day, which is now known as Veterans Day, stating that “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.”
This proved to be a powerful statement as it resonated with the American public and highlighted the importance in celebrating our veterans for their sacrifices.
Armistice Day initially sought to honor solely the victims of WWI for their sacrifice. However, following the mobilization of the U.S. military during WWII and the countless lives that were unfortunately lost during that conflict as well, it became evident that their service shall not go unnoted. On June 1, 1954, congress addressed this concern by issuing the approval of the holiday name change from “Armistice” Day to “Veterans” Day, marking an important day in history. Veterans Day would go on to become a day in which we honor all American Veterans.
Part of celebrating Veterans Day is reaching out to current and former service members within our community and thanking them for their service to our country. U.S. Marine Corp Veteran, Tommy Gillcrist, spoke about what Veterans Day means to him and why the continued celebration of it is so important. Gillcrist stated that “Veterans Day isn’t just a day for you to thank people for their service; it’s a day for understanding,” continuing to add that “it is a remembrance of the sacrifice so many have already made, and others will continue to make, paying the price for our safety and security.” These insights home in on the true importance of what Veterans Day is about, acknowledging and taking a moment to appreciate the burden that service members carry every day fighting for the interest of our country and protecting us from external forces that seek to dismantle very freedoms that we fought so hard to build up within our country.
Whether you or a loved one are involved with serving our country in some way, you can now have a new appreciation for the history behind why we celebrate Veterans Day and why the continued observance of the holiday is so important.
https://department.va.gov/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day/
Daniel Silva is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].
